Ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase said the name "Fijian" only belongs to the indigenous Fijians and the National Council for Building a Better Fiji and the interim government should immediately drop its proposal of a common name.

Qarase said the common name under the constitution for all citizens is "Fiji Islander" and the NCBBF should not come up with other names.

"Fijian should not be the common name for all citizens of Fiji. We have a common name in the Constitution, which is ‘Fiji Islander’. If you look at the Solomon Islands, they are known as Solomon Islanders. In the Cook Islands, they are known as Cook Islanders. In New Zealand they are known as New Zealanders. Now I believe that the problem in Fiji is that we have never really marketed Fiji Islander locally and abroad. That’s a pity because, I think, if we had done that there would be wide acceptance of that common name within Fiji and particularly abroad. We use the common name for the country when we travel outside of the country. Otherwise within the country we are known as ‘I Taukei’, ‘Indo Fijian’ or whatever."

Qarase said the common name "Fijian" belongs to the indigenous Fijians and it should remain that way.

"The word Fijian, when it was first introduced, referred to the indigenous population and it has remained that way ever since. Before the Deed of Cession. After the Deed of Cession until today. The word ‘Fijian’ is deeply embedded in the psyche of the Fijian people.  It is really part of them. It is in the Constitution. It is in the Fijian Affairs Act. It is a name that has been with them for about two hundred years now and it’s very difficult to change. That particular proposal is a very controversial one, is a very sensitive one and I anticipate very strong opposition from the Fijian people." 


The SDL Party has also stressed to the NCBBF and the interim government that the proposed People's Charter should just be left to an elected government to make the necessary decisions.

Qarase said the SDL will not support any changes at all to the constitution and the Electoral Act.

The military has come out strongly and announced that they are monitoring the actions of the ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase.

Military spokesperson, Major Neumi Leweni has warned Qarase and the SDL Party not to say things that will bring instability in the country.

"We see now that there is peace and stability. It is a tactic that they have been using – playing on the emotions of the indigenous people and that’s what they’ve been doing. And I have warned them time and again that people nowadays  know what is right and what is wrong and will not be lured into their promises - in which they have failed miserably in their last term in office. And I put it across to Qarase, to forget about luring people. It’s not going to happen, and we’re closely monitoring whatever they’re saying and doing. There will be peace and stability in this country."

SDL to Oppose All Constitutional, Electoral Changes Publish date/time: 07/08/2008 [18:01]

The SDL Party has stressed to the NCBBF and the interim government that the proposed People's Charter should just be left to an elected government to make the necessary decisions.

Ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase sa the SDL will not support any changes at all to the constitution and the Electoral Act.

The whole Charter Document is going to divide the people of Fiji rather than unite them and I think this is one of the worst possible outcomes of the Charter if it is implemented. The proposed electoral changes  are quite substantial – it’s a complete change in the electoral system and the voting system as well. Our position is that we will not support any changes to the electoral system and voting system outside of parliament. Any changes must be made within the provisions of the Constitution. Anything done outside of that framework will of course be illegal." 

Qarase also said it’s about time that the Supreme Court determines the role of the military as the draft People's Charter may allow the military to expand its operations.