PM questions Qarase’s motives

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has questioned former Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase‘s motives following a call by Qarase in a SODELPA made video that the Great Council of Chiefs should be reinstated.

In the video which is now being widely circulated, Qarase raises the question on why the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is talking about the relevance of the Great Council of Chiefs.

Qarase said Sayed-Khaiyum is a non-indigenous Fijian and should not speak about the institution.

Qarase further said in the video that SODELPA is ready to reinstate the GCC.

In an interview with Fijivillage, Bainimarama questions what Qarase has done for the Itaukei people as he has been convicted of offences which directly affected the Itaukei.

He said due to this conviction, Qarase cannot stand in the elections.

The Prime Minister questions why Qarase is bringing up the race issue as the Attorney General can speak on constitutional matters at any time.

Bainimarama also questions why some politicians are pushing for the reinstatement of the GCC.

The Prime Minister stresses that the chiefly structure is intact and no one has scrapped the position of the chiefs.

Meanwhile the 2013 constitution guarantees freedom of religion.

It also said that Fiji is a secular state which means that the state will not prefer one religion over another.

Any changes to the constitution will require 75 percent support of the members of parliament and 75 percent support of the registered voters of the country.

We will have more later today.