Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has urged Fijians to remain calm following the presentation of the Constitutional Review Commission’s report and recommendations, particularly over its recommendation concerning Fiji’s status as a secular state.
Rabuka stressed that the Commission’s recommendations do not represent decisions by the Government, saying Cabinet will now carefully consider the proposals before determining the way forward.
“I am aware that there is particular concern about the recommendation relating to Fiji’s status as a secular state,” Rabuka said.
The Prime Minister said his Christian faith was well known, but maintained that declaring Fiji a Christian state was not what determined whether the country was Christian.
“Christianity should be reflected in the way we live — through humility, kindness, compassion, hard work, service and love for one another,” he said.
Rabuka also sought to reassure Fiji’s Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and other communities that their religious freedoms and place in the country would not be threatened.
“Our Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and other brothers and sisters must never feel that their faith, freedom or place in Fiji is threatened,” he said.
“They are an integral part of our nation, and their right to practise their faith freely must always be respected and protected.”
Rabuka called on political leaders to exercise responsibility as the country considers the CRC’s recommendations, warning against turning the constitutional debate into a political, racial or religious confrontation.
He said he was concerned about commentary from anonymous social media accounts and online trolls that was already attempting to create “anger, fear and panic”.
“Please do not allow misinformation or inflammatory rhetoric to divide us,” he said.
Rabuka said Cabinet would consider each recommendation on its merits, with some potentially supported, others rejected and some requiring further consideration.
Quoting 1 Corinthians 16:14, he said: “Let all that you do be done in love.”
“That is the spirit in which we should approach this important national discussion,” Rabuka said.
