For Fiji to Progress, Remove Racism: PM
The FijiFirst leader said he could not figure out why SODELPA wanted the 1997 Constitution to be reinstated.
People who believe in segregating Fijians along racial lines cannot profess to be Christians, says Prime Minister and Leader of FijiFirst party Voreqe Bainimarama. In a very forthright address during the FijiFirst family fun day at the Valelevu Ground in Nasinu, Mr Bainimarama questioned the Christian values of those who were campaigning against a secular state.
“Every day when they (Opposition parties) say their daily prayers, they end their prayers’ with In Jesus’ Name, Amen. It was from their lips and not their hearts,” he said.
He said if Fiji was to progress, there was no place for racism in the country. He said secular state did not take away anyone’s right to practise their religion.
Mr Bainimarama said he could not figure out why SODELPA wanted the 1997 Constitution to be reinstated, because it “is a racist Constitution” adding that under the previous Constitution when people went to cast their vote, they were segregated people based on their race.
“One of the foundation of this Party is to eliminate racism.”
“Some don’t know what is in the Constitution, so when the Adi and the Ratu come and talk to you, you think this is right, this is the truth but it is not,” he said.
Great Council of Chiefs:
“What is the GCC going to do for us? I am an iTaukei, we are conversing in iTaukei, and it does not mean I took away the GCC I am against the iTaukei.” He said SODELPA wanted to bring back the GCC to play politics for them.
Vote for progress:
Mr Bainimarama said Fiji needed to vote for progress and the votes they cast on November 14 would decide which direction the country was headed.
He said political parties who were going to increase the public service retirement age to 60 would only stop young graduates from securing jobs in the civil service for additional five years.