Prasad hits out at ‘Fijian’ divide

National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad says those politicising the term “Fijian” as a common national identity are deliberately trying to undermine unity.

“People forget that we were being called Fijians by the international community long before it was legislated in the 2013 Constitution,” Professor Prasad said.

The NFP supports “Fijian” as the shared nationality for all citizens, saying it builds pride and patriotism.

Professor Prasad said those using the Great Council of Chiefs’ constitutional submission — which proposed reserving the term exclusively for indigenous iTaukei people — to stir racial debate were being divisive.

“Those politicising nationality are deliberately destroying unity when they could instead make reasoned arguments,” he said.

He pointed to three of Fiji’s most celebrated sporting figures — the late Josefa Levula, rugby sevens legend Waisale Serevi and golf champion Vijay Singh — all internationally known as Fijians.

Professor Prasad acknowledged the term was imposed without proper consultation under the 2013 Constitution, but said the answer was dialogue, not division.

His comments follow Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s call last week for a national debate on the issue.

“I believe we are all Fijians,” Mr Rabuka said.