Deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase reacted by stating that the name "Fijian" belonged exclusively to indigenous Fijians, and that he would oppose any change in legislation enabling non-indigenous Fijians to use it.28 - The Methodist Church, to which a large majority of indigenous Fijians belong, also reacted strongly to the proposal, stating that allowing any Fiji citizen to call themselves "Fijian" would be "daylight robbery" inflicted on the indigenous population.29 - In an address to the nation during the constitutional crisis of April 2009, military leader and interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who has been at the forefront of the attempt to change the definition of "Fijian", stated: "I know we all have our different ethnicities, our different cultures and we should, we must, celebrate our diversity and richness. However, at the same time we are all Fijians . We are all equal citizens. We must all be loyal to Fiji;we must be patriotic;we must put Fiji first." 30 - In May 2010, Attorney-General Aiyaz Saiyed Khaiyum reiterated that the term "Fijian" should apply to all Fiji nationals, but the statement was again met with protest. A spokesperson for the Viti Landowners and Resource Owners Association claimed that even fourth-generation descendants of migrants did not fully understand "what it takes to be a Fijian", and added that the term refers to a legal standing, since legislation affords specific rights to "Fijians" (meaning, in legislation, indigenous Fijians).31 - Fiji academic Brij Lal, a prominent critic of the Bainimarama government32 - 33 - , said he "would not be surprised" if the new definition of the word "Fijian" were included in the government's projected new Constitution, and that he personally saw "no reason the term Fijian should not apply to everyone from Fiji".34 -
Methodist Church Fiji And Rotuma
Web Site
Methodist Church Of Fiji And Rotuma - Fiji - Mobile Phones, Internet. Country Code
Methodist Church Of Fiji And Rotuma - Fiji - Mobile Phones, Internet. Country Code
Methodist Church Fiji And Rotuma Oceania
Methodist Church Fiji And Rotuma 2024 Fiji Methodist Church leader calls for partnerships to address drug issue RNZ
Methodist Church President raises concern as some leaders abuse grog and smoke in front of members Fijivillage
Methodist Church adopts new constitution FBC News
Church Seeks to End Ties With US Counterpart Fiji Sun Online