THE Nadi business community has issued a stark warning against proposed constitutional changes, cautioning that inserting religious divisions into the nation’s supreme law will undermine social cohesion and harm future generations.
Speaking during public consultations on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 in Nadi on Saturday, Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Lawrence Kumar urged committee members to protect Fiji’s secular State and preserve equality for all citizens.
“I’m actually a Methodist, from Indian Division. However, it doesn’t give me the right to sort of have my own religion be given that paramountcy,” he said.
Mr Kumar shared deep concern that the proposed amendments would worsen these fractures by separating Fijians along religious lines.
“I’ve shared roti, I’ve shared bread, I’ve shared cassava with my fellow iTaukei brothers and sisters. We sat on a table, we all shared that, but if this particular provision in the Constitution comes into play, I don’t think that would ever be there in the future.”
Questioning the precedent being set for youth, Mr Kumar cautioned against raising children in an environment where people only associate within their own faith groups.
He called on the parliamentary committee to revisit the provisions to ensure every citizen remains equal under the law.
“Remember, even our Christianity religion says we’re all equal in the eyes of the Lord.
“If the Bible says we’re all equal in the eyes of the Lord, why are we changing that in the constitution?”
