'Divisive and discriminatory': Labour hits back at GCC constitutional proposals

The Fiji Labour Party has labelled key submissions by the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) on the constitutional review as divisive and discriminatory.

“The Chiefs' call to reserve the common name, ‘Fijian’, for the iTaukei only, is divisive and discriminatory. It is a rebuff to the people of other races who also are citizens of Fiji,” said Labour leader and former prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry.

He also raised concern about proposals to change the country’s secular status.

“Their demand to remove the section proclaiming Fiji as a secular state is alarming to say the least.”

“All previous Constitutions, including the 1990 racist constitution, provided for freedom of worship and religion and this should be maintained,” said Mr Chaudhry.

Mr Chaudhry said Fiji needed a modern, republican and forward-looking constitution that served all citizens rather than vested interests.

He said the country’s economic and social development had suffered setbacks due to what he described as outdated impositions on indigenous people.

“This must be corrected by giving them the freedom to decide their own future under a fully democratic framework,” he said.

The party will address other concerns raised in the GCC submissions in its own presentation to the Constitutional Review Commission.

Mr Chaudhry noted Fiji would be moving towards its fifth constitution since independence, following four coups and four previous constitutions.

“It’s time to stop planning coups and abrogating constitutions.”

“It’s time to start building the nation under a government truly dedicated to the well-being of all the people,” he said.