attacked the new party, claiming that it would split the ethnic Fijian vote, which he said would not be good for the country. He also accused it of promoting policies that he said were the main cause of instability in the past - namely support for the 1997 constitution and the Agricultural Landlords and Tenants Act, both of which Qarase had attempted, without success, to substantially amend. On 4 May 2005, spokesman Bole said that party membership, and participation in party meetings, were increasing. Party president Ratu Ganilau said that finance was a major challenge for the party, but donors had come forward and the party was exploring creative ways to raise extra revenue. He was also encouraged by the considerable numbers of people who were volunteering to stand as candidates in the election expected to be held in 2006. Ganilau said on 1 February 2006 that the party would reorient the Affirmative Action policy away from race, to focus rather on need. "Whilst we don’t disagree with the Affirmative Action Policy, we rather place emphasis on the need rather than a particular group," he said. The policy would be aimed at guaranteeing access to education, employment, land, housing, and community participation to all citizens, regardless of race. Policies At the public launch of the party in April, Ganilau declared uniting the people of Fiji to be the most urgent priority. "We are here today, not so much as to launch a political party but more so and more importantly we are here today to project a vision that will inspire hope," Ganilau said. He condemned the promotion of communal interests and policies which, he said, denied the nation's advancement. In addition to promoting interethnic cooperation and national unity, the party would strongly emphasize economic development, Ganilau said. He called for greater government investment in shipbuilding, as well as in agriculture, tourism, and the clothing industry. The party took a strong stand against the government's controversial Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill. If passed, the bill would set up a Commission empowered to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the 2000 coup. Opponents said that the bill was just a legal mechanism for releasing supporters of the government who had been imprisoned on coup-related charges. Towards 2006 Spokesman Filipe Bole announced on 7 August 2005 that if the NAP won the general election scheduled for 2006, primary and secondary education would