Lautoka Resident Shiva Rajan Reddy.[PHOTO:SUPPLIED]
Declaring Fiji a Christian state could deepen religious divisions and undermine national unity.
This, according to Lautoka Resident Shiva Rajan Reddy.
Speaking at Girmit Hall in Lautoka during consultations on the Constitution Amendment Bill, Reddy said the Constitution must reflect Fiji’s diverse religious communities and ensure everyone feels secure.
“As history tells us, that most of the time since our independence, somehow or the other, the chiefs have been motivated, or they have been given an idea that they have been under threat. I ask this question, and I hope I am not offending anyone. Please tell me of a time when a non-ethnic individual single-handedly harmed the interest of this country.If you find someone, please let me know.”
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Reddy, who identified himself as a descendant of Girmitiyas, said constitutional reforms should bring communities together rather than create divisions.
He also supported recognising the role of traditional chiefs but questioned claims that their interests were under threat.
Reddy challenged submitters to identify instances where a non-ethnic individual had single-handedly harmed the country’s interests.
“It is over-inflated. If we are having a Senate, we do not need a government of that size. Also, the entire Senate can be irrelevant if we give the same powers to the President and the Vice President. If the GCC selects the President, then the powers of the President will always keep the interests of the nationals at heart. It will save us from a lot of bureaucracy and a lot of political agenda and games.”
He also supported the proposed Senate seats but suggested allowing provinces or their traditional leaders to select their nominees.
However, Reddy questioned the size of the proposed Senate and the powers assigned to the President and Vice President, warning that overlapping responsibilities could create unnecessary bureaucracy and political interference.
He urged leaders to seek broad public support for the proposed reforms, saying people would be more willing to accept change if they felt secure.