Ratu Naiqama labels NFP and FLP as parties of the 'vulagi' and says that SODELPA should never die

Former SODELPA President and Turaga Na Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu says SODELPA should never die as a party, and he has also spoken about the parties of the ‘vulagi’ or visitors that still exist and remain strong.

While speaking to party members in their AGM in Yaroi, Savusavu, Ratu Naiqama said that SODELPA should never get sick and die.

He says iTaukei parties are normally in existence in Fiji for about 10 years.

Ratu Naiqama says the party of the ‘vulagi’ or visitors like the National Federation Party still exists and remains strong since 1970. He also says the Fiji Labour Party still exists and also remains strong.

Ratu Naiqama says the iTaukei have had about 5 parties since 1970.

National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says the label of ‘vulagi’ or visitors of NFP by Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, is racist and NFP condemns in the strongest manner Ratu Naiqama’s reference to NFP as a party of the vulagi.

He says from the transcript of Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu’s speech, he was lamenting the fact that while the NFP remained a strong party, the iTaukei community had many parties since independence with a lifespan of 10 years.

Professor Prasad went on to say that this does not in any way diminish his derogatory reference to NFP as a party of the vulagi.

He says this is unacceptable as ‘vulagi’ was used by nationalists after the 1987 coups to describe the Indo Fijians.

Fijivillage also asked Professor Prasad on whether he maintains his stand in parliament where he had said that the opposition side are not made up of racist people.

Professor Prasad also says Ratu Naiqama should know that his late father and Tui Cakau, Ratu Glanville Lalabalavu was a pioneer senator of the NFP in 1970, barely seven years after the formation of NFP.

He says the fact that it was founded by an Indo‑Fijian 56 years hasn’t changed its philosophy of being a multiracial party, except for a brief period under the racist 1990 Constitution when by law it was forced to represent Indo Fijians.

Professor Prasad says even then one of their Vice‑Presidents was an i‑Taukei, the late Temo Sukanaivalu, who remained the Party’s senior Vice‑President until his death almost a year ago.

He goes on to say that currently, two out of three NFP Members of Parliament, Pio Tikoduadua and Lenora Qereqeretabua are i‑Taukei.

NFP MPs Pio Tikoduadua and Lenora Qereqeretabua

Prasad asks does Ratu Naiqama mean that they are also 'vulagi'.

The NFP Leader says Ratu Naiqama should also know that in June 1997, the then Opposition and NFP Leader Jai Ram Reddy delivered his historic speech to the Great Council of Chiefs, not as a vulagi but as the grandson of an indentured labourer.

He says the GCC did not regard Reddy as a vulagi but as a true son of Fiji.

Professor Biman Prasad asks Ratu Naiqama, whether the Leader of the Opposition Sitiveni Rabuka, who as Prime Minister, cooperated with Reddy to restore equality, dignity and justice to Indo‑Fijians who lost their rights in 1987, by giving Fiji the widely acclaimed 1997 Constitution, committed a cardinal error by working with Jai Ram Reddy as Leader of a party of the ‘vulagi’ as he claims.

Professor Prasad hopes Ratu Naiqama’s remark is an isolated one and not shared by SODELPA.

Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says it is wrong for the FLP to be called a ‘vulagi’ party.

Chaudhry says FLP represents all the people of Fiji.

When asked by Fijivillage on whether Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu’s comment that FLP is a ‘vulagi’ party affects relations with SODELPA and whether it will get difficult to work with SODELPA in future, Chaudhry did not give a clear answer.

Chaudhry says whatever has been said about the FLP and NFP may not be appropriate.

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