Praneeta Prakash
The two oldest political parties in Fiji have lashed out at what is being increasingly viewed as racist comments made by the outgoing SODELPA President Naiqama Lalabalavu.
During the Annual General Meeting of SODELPA held in Savusavu on Friday, Lalabalavu labelled the National Federation Party and the Fiji Labour Party as “Old Parties made up of ‘Vulagis’ or visitors.”
NFP Leader Dr Biman Prasad said that ‘Vulagi’ invokes painful memories of racist utterances by nationalists who wanted to get rid of Indo-Fijians from Fiji after the 1987 coups.
Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama said that no Fijian is ‘Vulagi’ in the country.
“We are all Fijians and we all share a destiny and all hold equal value in our democracy,” he said in a Statement.
Under Special Arrangement with Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.
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Photo Caption:
Naiqama Lalabalavu, Dr Biman Prasad and Mahendra Chaudhry (FBC Picture)
