The National Federation Party has evolved beyond its historical image as a party representing a single community and is now the country’s most multiracial political organisation, says party leader Professor Biman Prasad.
Speaking at the NFP working committee meeting in Rakiraki on Saturday, Prof Prasad said perceptions of the party as solely an Indo-Fijian political movement no longer reflected its membership, leadership and parliamentary representation.
“NFP is not just an Indian party or an Indo-Fijian party,” he said.
“It is the most multiracial party in the country by any statement, by any face.
“Forty per cent of our members in Parliament are from our iTaukei community.”
Prof Prasad said demographic projections indicated the iTaukei population would make up close to 70 per cent of Fiji’s population by 2037, while the Indo-Fijian population would account for about 20 per cent.
He said these trends strengthened the party’s responsibility to address the concerns of all communities, particularly indigenous Fijians, while safeguarding the rights of others.
“As an Indo-Fijian member of Parliament and a leader of a party, it is my responsibility.
“It is our party’s responsibility to talk about the problems of every community, and more importantly, the problems of our iTaukei community.
“When we talk about the problems and the issues facing our iTaukei community, that does not mean that you are diluting the rights of our Indo-Fijian community.”
Prof Prasad also defended the reconciliation and outreach work undertaken by Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran.
“When she goes to iTaukei villages, when she talks about apology, she is doing it on behalf of the people of this country, it does not mean that she is diluting any particular concerns of our Indo-Fijian community.”
