Pacific

Fiji's CFF calls for minister's sacking over ethnicity statements

15:31 pm on 7 August 2006

A report from Fiji says the Citizens Constitutional Forum has called for the sacking of the minister of state for national planning, Jone Navakamocea.

It follows statements in parliament by the minister that the term "Indo-Fijian" should be banned because it is being used to "Fijianise" the identity of ethnic Indians.

He also said the rights of Fijians as the indigenous community and as resource owners are far above the rights of other migrant communities, including Indians.

In a statement, the executive director of the CCF, the Reverend Aquila Yabaki, says the prime minister cannot have a minister who is publicly in defiance of the constitution and his government's policy, and appears to be in opposition to the multi-party cabinet.

The Reverend Yabaki says Mr Navakamocea should resign because of his public disagreement with the prime minister, or the prime minister should sack him.

The Reverend Yabaki says the prime minister cannot allow Mr Navakamocea to remain the minister responsible for the government's blueprint programme when he is publicly opposed to the policy that he is required to implement by placing it above the constitution.