Ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has questioned the NCBBF on whether the recommendation in the draft People's Charter to eliminate the racial categorization in all government records and registers, includes the Vola Ni Kawa Bula.
Qarase said the draft specifically says the elimination of all government records and this according to him will include the VKB.
"It’s a very controversial and sensitive one. The register of Fijians – the Vola ni Kawa Bula – VKB- is a register kept by the government. It has been kept there and updated ever since the Fijian race was recorded in that manner. The source documents for the VKB are the birth certificate, the marriage certificate and the death certificate which are deposited with the registrar of births, deaths and marriages. I was surprised when I saw that particular recommendation. There is no clarification on it. The recommendation is to abolish the VKB. If that is the intention they should come out very clearly on it."
When Fijivillage called the NCBBF's John Samy, he said the VKB will not be eliminated and he will make a full statement on Qarase's comment later this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Acting Interim Prime Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau said the draft Charter does not specifically say the elimination of the VKB and people should not assume anything.
"This purpose of this document is just a draft – it doesn’t mean that it’s going to do away with something that is not given a mention in the charter. So if people are reading too much into this then this could be issues that could be brought up for people to read into it if it’s not mentioned they obviously are airing the concern that this could be brought up. But it’s not mentioned in the charter itself– so for me it’s not an issue."
