Parliament

NFP Leader accused Government of inciting racial disunity

May 15, 2019 4:49 pm

National Federation Party Leader Biman Prasad [Source: Fiji Parliament]

There was a commotion in parliament today as National Federation Party Leader Biman Prasad accused the Government of stoking up the past to incite racial disunity.

He made the comments while responding to Education Minister Rosy Akbar’s ministerial statement on Girmit day celebrations.

Prasad says they agree with Akbar that the events of 1987, 2000 and 2006 should not be forgotten.

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He also spoke about academic Dr Brij Lal and his wife saying that the son of Girmitiya has been banned.

“When a government develops that kind of venom and hate for an individual and his wife and bans them from this country and have the audacity to talk about celebrating Girmit in this country is ridiculous, only because this man was critical of military coup in this country. He is a descendant of a Girmitiya. You can’t talk about him. I will talk about him. This is about Girmit. They talk about working together. They talk about unity. You keep stoking the past to whip up racial disunity. You did that in the last election.”

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is expected to comment on the matter this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Rosy Akbar says the lives of forefathers is not entertainment.

“What we want to do within our ministry is to ensure that the lives of our forefathers are treasured. It’s not merely entertainment. So I can assure the house that the celebrations, the reflections have not ended.”

Opposition Member of Parliament Ro Teimumu Kepa says that by accepting the descendants of Girmitiyas they have shown that they are working together.

This year marks 140 years since the first Girmitiyas came to Fiji.