SODELPA Opposition MP Niko Nawaikula yesterday asked iTaukei Government MPs if they regarded themselves as indigenous people.

He asked the question while responding to the Presidential address during the ceremonial opening of Parliament.

Mr Nawaikula highlighted what the President, Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote said. He said Mr Konrote noted that the 2013 Constitution was able to accommodate contemporary changes in society while addressing the past.

“By these words I am sure that His Excellency the president was referring to measures in the Constitution to implement the Sunset Clause,” he said.

He said the “Sunset Clause” contained various measures that the Attorney-General had foretold in his thesis to remove the ‘Cultural Anatomy’ of the  separate administration of indigenous Fijians according to customs from village level to the tikina, province and GCC as apex.

He said the Opposition side of the House objected to the Constitution because it was implemented without their consent at national level.

“If the indigenous people of that side of the House (Government) don’t see it I am not sure what’s happening to you, you may not even be indigenous if you can’t see it, we can see it from this side but you can’t so are you indigenous, let me know or may be you just don’t care,” he added

Edited by Mohammed Ali

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