The removal of the prohibited immigrant status on Dr Padma Narsey Lal, enabling her and the children to bring home Professor Brij Lal’s ashes to his final resting place in Tabia in nine days’ time, is highly symbolic, says Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad.
“It will put to an end the 13 years of a tragic chapter heaped on a true son of Fiji and his wife, banished from the land of their birth by a cruel and heartless regime and refused re-entry by the former FijiFirst government, simply because they wanted restoration of democracy,” he said in the House yesterday while responding to President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere’s Parliament opening speech.
“The pre-eminent historian on girmit in Fiji and elsewhere, recognised and respected for his works, research and immeasurable knowledge, and a man of unimpeachable integrity was prevented from coming home because the order to ban him came from the Office of the Prime Minister.
“And we all know who was the prime minister for the last 16 years.”
Prof Prasad said the return of the head of the University of the South Pacific was also significant event for Fiji.
“The return of University of the South Pacific vice- chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia to the USP campus a few days ago, buries the unlawful saga of him and his wife nabbed at midnight and deported from Fiji by the very same government that now preaches its own concocted version of rule of law in this Parliament.”
