EXPLICIT constitutional protections must be established to safeguard Indigenous Fijian culture, heritage, and rights against rapid demographic shifts, former Lautoka mayor Kenneth Low told a public parliamentary consultation on October 17.
Delivering his submission on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 at the Girmit Centre, Mr Low highlighted the stark contrast between natural population growth among Indigenous Fijians and rapid immigration from abroad. Mr Low argued that native populations face unique long-term demographic vulnerabilities that standard legal frameworks fail to address.
He cautioned that without firm constitutional mechanisms, Indigenous representation risks dilution over time.
“There are not that many Fijians in this world,you can have as many Chinese, as many Koreans, you can have all the Indians and the other Bangladesh and other people coming in here continuously,”he said.
“Their numbers will build up with every plane load, but the Fijians, the natives, in order to increase their population, will have to spend nine months and then forever after that, 16 years to educate and bring them up.” He warned fast-tracked naturalisation policies seen in other international jurisdictions pose significant societal risks if not monitored within a small island nation like Fiji. “Whereas the other way, people land here, five years later they all become Fijians. Is that fair? It’s dangerous. So, sir, what I’m trying to say is that you make sure that the constitution protects the native Fijian culture, benefits, as well as what’s rightfully yours.”
