The Leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party said it would be interesting to find out if people still vote along racial lines although the race based electoral system is no longer in place.
While speaking on our special general elections talkback, Straight Talk with our News Director, Vijay Narayan on our sister stations Viti FM and Radio Sargam last night, Ro Teimumu Kepa said that racial politics only comes up during the elections.
Although she first insisted that people still had the right to vote for anyone in the previous elections, Ro Teimumu later agreed that Fiji had a legislated race based voting system in the past elections.
Ro Teimumu Kepa has also made her party’s stand clear that they will push for changes to ensure that the common name is not Fijian for all Fiji citizens.
She stressed that SODELPA’s stand is that this is a non-negotiable issue as the name Fijian is owned by the Itaukei.
The SODELPA Leader also said that Fiji is blessed to have people from different communities as this is also an attraction for many but non Indigenous Fijians who are born in Fiji should be happy and free to use the name Fiji citizens or Fiji Islanders.
Ro Teimumu highlighted that she believes all Fiji citizens can enjoy all the privileges under the law but they cannot be called a Fijian.
Ro Teimumu said if SODELPA comes into power they will look at special privileges for the indigenous people who are lagging behind in education, health and other areas.
When questioned on her stand on people from other groups who are also needy, she said there will also be special privileges for all groups who make the eligibility criteria.
However the criteria was not specified.
Join us on our special general elections talkback, Straight Talk from 7 tonight on our sister stations, Viti FM and Radio Sargam.
Our guest on the show tonight is One Fiji Party President, Filimoni Vosarogo.
Join us tonight and you can also call and ask the Political Party Leaders and their representatives questions on issues that matter to you as we approach the September 17th general elections.
We will also have live video streaming of the talk backs on our website, fijivillage.com
Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan - SODELPA
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