Politically-Aligned Chiefs To Be Disqualified: Chaudhry Says

Chiefs closely associated with party politics should be disqualified from any positions in the GCC, says Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry.

Mr Chaudhry said the GCC needs to protect itself from becoming, yet again, a tool in the hands of those seeking political dominance over other communities.

As the GCC convened in Pacific Harbour yesterday, he recommended that the Great Council of Chiefs pursue a development agenda for the indigenous community.

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Make up for mistakes

“We have seen the GCC make that mistake thrice by supporting military – backed coups that forcibly removed democratically elected governments in 1987 and 2000, seriously damaging relations between the two major communities of our nation,” Mr Chaudhry said.

“These treasonous acts have largely gone unpunished because of the (constitutional) immunity granted to the perpetrators of the coups,” he said.

He said Fiji’s depressed economic and social conditions with high unemployment and poverty were directly the result of these tragic events, with the indigenous community now constituting 75 per cent of those living in poverty.

“Unfortunately, there are clear indications that some elements in the Coalition government are still pursuing the same old course and are jockeying for positions to achieve their aim,” Mr Chaudhry said.

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