My own position
What’s in a name?
HEARING the Attorney-General’s totally unnecessary and inaccurate criticisms of well respected senior lawyers, reading Graham Leung’s comments and Richard Naidu’s article (28/8), I am suddenly aware of my own position.
I have no wish to be accused of fraud by the Attorney-General!
My birth certificate records a cumbersome name that consists of 4 names and 24 letters.
From the first my family did not use the whole of it, reducing the second name on my birth certificate to five letters by which I have been known all my life.
When I married, I took my husband’s name thus adding another letter to my full name. This name, Tessa Mackenzie, I have used for the last sixty years.
For most if not all official documents I use my full name, laboriously writing all 25 letters.
However, in recent years the Attorney-General wished to change the Fiji Flag that became Fiji’s national emblem in 1970.
As a result of the massive public opposition to this, I suddenly gained undeserved fame as the lady who designed the Fiji flag. I have been photographed many, many times by and with people happy to meet me, the most recent ones three weeks ago!
I understand that I am named in information issued to school students, as Tessa Mackenzie, co-winner of the competition to design a flag for Fiji in 1970.
Should I wish to stand for election to Parliament, I would wish to use the name by which many people in Fiji know me, the short commonly used version, otherwise I would find it hard to capture any votes!
As a result of Mr Niko Nawaikula’s recent experience, I now feel in a difficult position, especially following the Attorney-General’s most recent outburst.
I do not wish to be charged for misrepresentation, or fraud, or worse.
Should I return the $50 presented to me as my share of the prize money in 1970?
I know that many people have names even longer than mine on their birth certificates, and for convenience use shorter versions in daily life.
Many people live with what are known by nicknames that they have acquired and been unable to shrug off. Should we all be seriously worried? Perhaps the Attorney-General should relax a little and enjoy a little humour.
TESSA MACKENZIE
Suva
■ More letters on Pages 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24