No change to identity

Luke Rawalai
Friday, October 12, 2012

CONSTITUTION Commission Committee member Penelope Moore has assured villagers of Taveuni that the constitution does not intend to change the identity of the iTaukei people.

Responding to concerns raised by some villagers through submissions made in Somosomo Village early this week over the common identity of 'Fijians', Ms Moore referred to a quote by Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi when he said the use of the term Fijian as a common identity was being used by some as a red flag for their own reasons.

"People's attachment to their culture is understandable in that it is a label that sets them apart from the rest," said Ms Moore.

"A person's identity could be their culture, traditions, language and customs which are sacred to them as it is something that keeps them original apart from the rest of the populace.

"In Fiji we have lived together for a long time now and the intermingling of cultures have produced a sort of culture that makes us unique as a multicultural nation."

Ms Moore said even Fijians of Indian descent who travel abroad were still called Fiji Indians because there was something different about them which sets them apart from the Indians back in their native land. "This also applies to other races apart from the iTaukei that live in Fiji when they travel abroad, a uniqueness that tell others that they are from Fiji."