Poor Dan Fatiaki. The former chief justice spent years in the judicial and political wilderness until the Coalition recently appointed him Chair of the Electoral Reform Commission to review the nation’s electoral laws.
His contributions to the national debate thus far have been confined to his prolific letters to the editor of the Fiji Times, mostly in support of changing the 2013 Constitution. But when as Electoral Reform Commission Chair, Fatiaki dares to venture the opinion that the years of ethnic-based voting in Fiji are over, he gets a very public and humiliating slap-down from the Coalition minister and prominent chief, Ro Filipe Tuisawau.
Dan Fatiaki has made the mistake of taking it upon himself to assure the minorities that the equal votes of equal value provisions contained in the 2013 Constitution – and presumably the common and equal citizenry – are not under threat. When the reality is that they are very much under threat. And Ro Filipe says as much by refusing to rule out a return to race-based voting.
There’s no doubt that Ro Filipe is speaking on behalf of the cream of the iTaukei elite. Because his illustrious pedigree happens to include being the nephew of the Rewa high chief, Ro Teimumu Kepa, the former opposition leader and Roko Tui Dreketi – head of the Burebasaga Confederacy.
Where does this leave the one third of the Fijian population who are non-indigenous? Do we believe Dan Fatiaki when he says we are not going back to ethnic-based voting? Or do we take it as a given from Ro Felipe’s reprimand that it is precisely what is envisaged by him and other members of the Great Council of Chiefs? Who are you more likely to believe, Fiji?
Sadly, one thing is certain. The new Chair of the Electoral Reform Commission cannot be trusted to give an assurance about anything fundamental if he is to be immediately contradicted on such a major issue – claiming that race-based voting is a thing of the past. Ro Filipe’s intervention means that it isn’t. It is coming back if a large element of the iTaukei establishment get their way. And the position of the minorities in Fiji has never been more vulnerable.
As we observe this unseemly public brawl, the minorities certainly have a right to ask who is Dan Fatiaki anyway? A Rotuman former chief justice who demonstrably doesn’t speak for the iTaukei telling us one thing when he clearly doesn’t have the authority to do so. All of which inevitably places a question mark over any public statements he makes in his new role, along with those of his fellow non-indigenous members of the Electoral Reform Commission such as Professor Wadan Narsey.
They may THINK race-based elections are over. But they are not over when senior members of the establishment contradict them. And it is not just Ro Filipe Tuisawau. The Deputy Prime Minister, Manoa “I’ll work harder if you pay me more” Kamikamica, has explicitly raised the possibility of a return to the 1997 Constitution. That means a return to race based voting – weighted votes in favour of the iTaukei – and the further disadvantage of an end to the common identity – of the minorities losing their right to describe themselves as “Fijian” and being relegated to being “Fiji Islanders”.
It isn’t good enough. And it is high time for the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, to clear the air once and for all in a manner that he has glaringly failed to do thus far.
Prime Minister, is your Chair of the Electoral Reform Commission right in saying that race-based voting is a thing of the past? Or do you share the view of Ro Filipe Tuisawau that it is very much on the table for consideration and may be a part of Fiji’s future?
Answers please and urgently. It is not an option for you to “retain your right to be silent” as you have with the source of your gold Rolex. Tens of thousands of non-indigenous Fiji citizens are currently making up their minds whether there is a genuinely viable future for them and their families in Fiji. Whether they are to be full citizens with equal rights or whether the common and equal citizenry and common identity provisions of the 2013 Constitution are now up for debate, as Ro Filipe Tuisawau is saying.
These Fijians – and that’s what they still are – elected you and your Coalition partners on the basis of your promise before the last election to govern for all. And it is high time you end your prevarication and finally tell us the truth.
————
The astonishing events of the last 48 hours. First Daniel Fatiaki telling the Fiji Times that race-based elections are over.
Dan “made it clear”? Not so. 24 hours later came the big slap-down.
So who is right Prime Minister? The time for sitting on the fence is over. Because this is an issue of fundamental importance to tens of thousands of people currently deciding whether they still belong in the Fiji over which YOU preside.
Dan Fatiaki should do what he is told by the people whose team have just started their consultations process.
Not surprisingly, there are voices calling for separate ethnic seats as a way of protecting ethnic minorities i.e. a return to the ethnic voting of the past.
For Ro Filipe – a rabid ethno-nationalist – the idea of the ‘paramountcy of indigenous Fijian interests’ remains a rallying cry for many i’taukei who have seen how their interests were shoved aside during the FijiFirst rule. It will never happen again, they say.
Rolex Rambo will not say anything. He will manipulate the situation to suit his power interests. In this case, he will once again choose to ‘remain silent’ and let the genie of indigenous Fijian ethno-nationalism do the work for him.
So you are wasting your time calling for him to make a statement.
I waste my time across a broad front in these columns. But it doesn’t mean that I am wrong to try.
Keep it up bro.
At the end of the day it doesn’t really matter. Two thirds of the population are iTaukei. Come elections, they ultimately decide who forms government. The parliament is basically a reflection of the ethnic breakdown of Fiji. Around 30% of MPs are Indo-Fijian. If anything, common role paired with multiple constituencies will be the ideal electoral system for Fiji. And that is possible without amending the constitution, according to Jon Fraenkel’s interpretation of the constitution.
Then Dan Fatiaki should start listening to him. Because Fatiaki keeps saying the Constitution needs to be changed for meaningful electoral change.
Dan Fatiaki has had his day. He doesn’t look like he is up to the task anymore.
I don’t look as if I’m up to the task anymore either. Looks can be deceiving.
In his defence, Dan Fatiaki is a gentleman who undoubtedly means well. It was actually very courageous to stick his neck out and say what he did. But unfortunately it didn’t take more than a day for him to be contradicted.
Wishful thinking isn’t going to persuade the iTaukei elite that they don’t deserve to lord it over everyone else. It’s the great tragedy at the heart of national life. But let’s judge people on their actions and what they say, rather than their appearance.
Dan Fatiaki deserves respect yet like many well-meaning Coalition supporters, seems oblivious to the malevolent forces around him. The same applies to Wadan Narsey and any number of others.
I worked for Frank and Aiyaz because they took a stand for equality and incorporated it into the 2013 Constitution. These people are in bed with people who don’t regard them as equals at all. And yet they do their bidding. Weird.
Is this the Filipe Tuisawau who did his Masters at Massey University on a Fijian Affairs Board scholarship? He knows he couldn’t have got that scholarship had he competed in a much broader multiracial pool. He enjoys his elitism which can be strengthened through a Futurama racially biased constitution like the past. Fear has a way of spreading and no doubt Filipe is afraid and spreading that fear.
Filipe also would drink away his living allowance on booze, most notably at the Massey University Fiji functions. His opponents for the end of function drunkards fight would always be Fijians of Indian descent some of them good fighters and would go toe to toe until the not so drunk would step in to break up the fights.
Filipe has lived a life in fear from Vulagis and his actions reflect who he really is. No doubt he is another racist Dogla like his boss Rolex Rambo.
The same slippy Fillipy was treasonous speight’s main treasonous armed side kick during the 2000 distaster and remains the same rabid bigot as ever.
Slippy Filippy was arrested together with the pardoned bastard 2000 front man at Lagere by the men in green.
Elma Fudd is more knowledgeable with a gun.
Everyone has forgotten including Dan Fatiaki, the current constitution is already not racially based. So what is it that Dan wants to change????
To a racially based one leaning towards the fijians I suppose.
An overt baseless and bullying attack on minorities again from DPM Prasad accusing the minorities and threatening them to be thrown out of the country. What nonsense.
‘Those attempting to destroy religious tolerance will have no place in this country ‘ – Prof. Prasad
Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16AYfVXAJW/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Once again, Prof. Prasad singles out minority groups, exploiting their vulnerability and implying that they are the primary culprits behind religious unrest. Prof. Prasad, have you looked at the data? The facts clearly show that the majority of such incidents have not originated from these communities. Why, then, are you consistently targeting minorities?
If members of minority communities are implicated, how do you propose to deal with them? Are you suggesting they be expelled from the country, as your words seem to threaten?
This kind of rhetoric is deeply troubling. Instead of promoting unity, it fuels division. Please, I respectfully urge you—don’t play the racial card. The fire you’re stoking will not spare you either.
Let’s stand for facts, fairness, and a future built on genuine tolerance—not threats, fear blame & bullying!
Arkathi you seem to forget that Biman is the number one dogla. Just like Sashi, they will blame anyone to save their political careers. Remember the apologies from Sashi?
We may not agree with him, but at least Ro Filipe has the guts to stand up and expose his real ethno-nationalist DNA and his shameless image that he is fighting for the i Taukeis supremacy. If it was not obvious from his FB posting in the i Taukei language, he couldn’t have made himself more transparent.
Compare that to Biman Prasad who does not have the spine to stand up for anything. His threatening words, following the desecration of the Hindu scriptures in a Labasa temple, was a desperate attempt to remain relevant. As someone pointed out in the Letters to Editor column today, his diatribe, which could hardly be understood by the layman, has backfired.
And then his lengthy pieces in the Fiji Times, written by former UN Ambassador and FFP lackey, Satyendra Prasad, who is now a close adviser of Biman, is also a vain attempt to justify his climate credentials in the face of the reality which has seen very little climate finance in the Fijian coffers in spite of the huge COP29 delegation and other junkets.
Of course he does not have the balls to stand up for the rights of the minorities, too timid in the face of racist Rabuka, and hell bent on guarding his position at all costs.
Filipe is a nutter. He is as thick as two planks and a rabid racist to boot. He can’t think straight. He is bereft of logic and reason and his only weapon is hate. Basically he is a giant turd racist arsehole who can’t hold down a job in the real world. Like his aunt the rewan princess he has always relied on his chiefly status to wing his way through life with favour’s and jobs courtesy of the commoner. They exploit people because their status allows them to. They are lazy manumanus who suck the blood of their people, talk big, sound important and do f**k all.
These racist ratus and Rolex rabuka type elitists know that without communal voting they will be toast in the next elections. They can’t get enough votes on open tickets. So they will lobby for tbe reintroduction of racist communal seats so that they can cajole, threaten and Masipolo their commoner subjects from their fiefdoms to vote for them.
This will ensure that they continue to have jobs and privileges for life until they die. What sad bastards they are. They even exploit their own people even after they die making sure that they get large, expensive grossly over the top funerals. When the hell will the common itaukei wake up collectively and realize that their leaders, the ratus and the roles, have always vesumonad them just to benefit themselves. Wake up you bastards!!
Dan Fatiaki ain’t no Saint or Saviour. Whilst being CJ he used his power to influence the Police in not charging his wife for speeding and related offences.
Let’s not forget how he benefited from the Coup of 87 and the outstanding loan he still owes – or rather siphoned from NBF.
He happily took the money and left his CJ’s post in Fiji, never to challenge his forceful removal although he remained bitter to this date.
It’s also worth noting that he didn’t resign as CJ from Nauru, but rather he was stopped from returning. He was terminated/forced to leave.
Makes one wonder what is it about Dan Fatiaki and Graham Leung that they can’t seem to last long in their posts wherever they go.
It is interesting that leaders who always seem to have promoted multiculturalism and liberal non ethno ideology have come from schools of education that did not recognise ethnic divisions like Marist, Grammar, Natabua, St Josephs, Dudley etc.
Take for example, Ratu Mara, Frank, Aiyaz, Fatiaki who we speak of at the moment and other prominent professionals and business leaders in the community who went through the Marist system where the intermingling of the races built an understanding of each other’s backgrounds and acceptance of diversity.
The prominent nationalists and basic racists were generally “educated “ in institutions such as RKS, QVS, Ballantine and the like and likely awarded government scholarships to go and conduct drunken fights at Massey University as the Chairwoman- Great Council of Vulagi Chiefs states above. Wasn’t only confined to Massey.
I leave it to you to guess as to which institution ’educated’ Baiman.
A valid point. I totally endorse all the other sentiments including Vitian’s.
And DPM Prasad calls himself a ‘professor’ professing as the enlightened one in his discipline and as an ‘enlightened leader’! He drives much of his behaviour as the ‘educated one’ and gets away with it. He doesn’t hold a personal chair, nor a substantive appointment anywhere as professor. He may be an ‘adjunct professor’ and should use this as the correct title if this is so. I can recall some professors who won elections in the past had rightly given up their titles and called themselves Drs who was the correct thing to do!
This is a matter for clarification on the grounds of academic honesty & integrity. Hoping the DPM can clarify this soon to clear his position and some doubts in the people he represents.
The current lot have lied their way into parliament, rapidly achieved their priority of enriching themselves with increased salaries and benefits. Now they are in the process of utilizing any and every means to entrench themselves in power to continue enjoying the baubles.
Trade, Tariffs, Health, environment, law and order, infrastructure and almost all other govt responsibilities are on the back burner, waste bin or too hard basket. It is depressing, exasperating and a hopeless the state of affairs caused by the coalition government’s incompetence and self serving ambitions.
The slim glimmer of hope is that they will prove incompetent in retaining power, just as they have been incompetent in everything else, and we will be rid of them in 2026.
Ro Filipe “In Terms Of” Tuisawau, is the most useless person in government after Bill Gavoka.
They are all useless actually, but these two take joint Gold Medal.
Those who are openly racists and proud are a special type of stupid. And this type of stupid is prevalent everywhere in Fiji and is quite common. Nothing better than being a very proud racist and have absolutely no idea.
For Fiji: Patriotism Over Nationalism
Graham, this is my first contribution “inked” on your webpage. Until now, I’ve been a silent reader—making commentary in my mind and sharing reflections around the basin with close family members. For context, I belong to the “two-thirds,” if the latest census is still our reference point.
To be honest, everything collapsed around me the moment SODELPA, in its kingmaker role, chose the coalition. My interest in Fiji politics quickly faded. I knew then that we, the iTaukei, would once again be subjected to a familiar pattern—a hierarchical, submissive custom in which the elite reassert themselves atop the highest pedestal, convinced it’s their God-given duty to dictate what is right or wrong for everyone else.
Some of these elite heads have been dormant for decades, like ghosts on Shutter Island—abstaining involuntarily from the potent, ecstassial power drugs once administered in small doses by colonial rulers to help them manage “the natives.” And even if they weren’t the direct recipients, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. That legacy is hereditary.
Since 1970, the political narrative has been predictably baited with “land” and “the iTaukei way of life”—hooks that catch the ordinary majority, time and again. Meanwhile, the power structure stays largely unchanged.
Bainimarama and Khaiyum weren’t perfect, but they laid a foundation for something truly transformative: a Fiji where every Fijian is equal. That, to me, is the Fiji we should strive for—a nation in which ethnicity isn’t a dividing line, but a tapestry. I can’t imagine a Fiji without other ethnic groups. I don’t want to. The vision of it is an eyesore.
Let’s promote patriotism—the kind that uplifts all Fijians—rather than nationalism, which tends to serve only a few.
Here, here. And vinaka vakalevu for your (belated) contribution. Most welcome.
These are indeed lofty ideals. I like what you are saying. But the problem is that many of the i’taukei have been conditioned by the colonial experience, to think in ethnic terms.
Please don’t blame the British. Again. If the iTaukei are thinking in ethnic terms, it is entirely down to them.
They may be long gone, but the institutions they built, and the power structures they favoured, are still very much alive—preserved not by accident, but by those who benefit most from them. It’s not just that the iTaukei have been conditioned to think in ethnic terms; it’s that this conditioning is actively reinforced. The elites cling to these frameworks because they serve their agenda—power cloaked in cultural preservation, control masked as tradition.
What we’re seeing today is not the ghost of colonialism—it’s the deliberate upkeep of its machinery, under a local face. The tragedy is that it continues to be sold to the masses under the false pretense of identity, faith, and protection, when in truth it’s about holding on to inherited privilege. If we’re serious about moving forward, then we must stop mistaking inherited power for cultural guardianship.
Agreeing with hwla.
Ingrained. Inherent. Embedded. Heredity. Habit. Attitude.
These are extremely difficult characteristics to change. As
much as one might suggest it is in the DNA, it is not.
Hate, racism, bigotry, false sense of superiority are taught. It is the product of one’s surroundings.
Ignorance, arrogance, pride normalized by successive generations are huge contributors to group inferiority complex and dislike of others, especially for those who don’t look like you.
More so, the misplaced sense of entitlement to special privileges by accident of birth. This is especially dangerous when combined with false humility.
Fiji is not unique to these issues.
The rising far right fascism, racism, hate, bigotry in North America, and Europe-including Germany of all places, bears this out.
The difference is the rest of the world have firm, established governance structures and processes and protection for all peoples.
Everyone feels included no matter what the political currents of the month might be, bad vibes that are often created by passing morons.
Nationhood remains front and center. A fair, just, and transparent judiciary and law enforcement, being equal before the law and courts are prerequisites in any civilized modern society/nation.
The difference with Fiji and the rest of the world is we don’t know if Fiji will ever mature into true nationhood.
Or continue dangerously down the path closer and closer to fascism.
In Fiji, everything is everyone else’s fault as we all know.
Guess whose fault was it who introduced a vulagi religion to cannibals. It is totally not suited and out of place. And it is showing. But they have taken it up with great passion.
I reckon the solution is to give up the vulagi religion and go back to tradition and culture. At the moment it is all mixed up and it is all f**ked up at the same time.
Not as f**ked up as you would have been had the missionaries and the British not stopped the cannibals from eating you.