Opposition MP Semi Koroilavesau raised his concerns in Parliament on Wednesday over what he described as an increasing political divide and the marginalisation of Opposition voices during recent parliamentary proceedings.
Addressing the Speaker on a Point of Order, Mr Koroilavesau said the atmosphere in Parliament in recent days had been “very different” and warned that divisive language and partisan behaviour were undermining the spirit of parliamentary democracy.
Drawing from his experience serving on both sides of the House, he criticised what he viewed as a growing “us versus them” mentality among members.
“The words uttered and actions displayed in Parliament have reared the ugly head of political divide, which is normally reserved for campaigners,” Mr Koroilavesau said.
He questioned the Government’s handling of amendments proposed to the Education Bill 2025 by the Opposition, arguing that several recommendations were “proper and made sense” but were dismissed because of the Government’s numerical majority.
“Only Government and the honourable minister’s amendments were accepted, as Government has the numerical supremacy.
“I hope that this deliberate shutdown of the Opposition will not come back to haunt us as a Parliament.”
He warned that the deliberate rejection of Opposition input could damage the integrity of Parliament and discourage bipartisan cooperation.
The Opposition MP also criticised comments made during debates on the Tourism Bill 2026, saying references to an “unregulated” tourism industry overlooked Fiji’s internationally recognised tourism standards and past achievements, including the growth of Fiji Airways and increasing tourist arrivals.
He urged government MPs to move away from campaign-style politics and focus instead on contributions that benefited Fiji as a whole.
Mr Koroilavesau stressed that parliamentary conduct should reflect respect for democratic institutions rather than political dominance.
Speaker of Parliament acknowledged the concern and stated he would review whether the Point of Order complied with Standing Orders before delivering a formal ruling.
