The prime minister of Fiji, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, has accused the Methodist Church in that country of being a mouthpiece for the opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA). The church’s general secretary, Reverend Epineri Vakadewavosa, has responded by saying the church leaders would see the Prime Minister and “sort things”. Mr Vakadewavosa said the church Read more
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong continues to maintain that as a theologian, he could not compromise on his belief that religion was a public matter. He made a distinction between the idea of a secular state and the idea that religion is private. “We do not have a problem with Fiji being called a secular state,” Read more
The Archbishop of Suva, Fiji, Peter Loy Chong says that Christians and non-Christians should challenge the Constitution because faith is not supposed to be private. The Constitution protects the right of every person either individually or in community with others, in private or in public, to manifest and practise their religion or belief in worship, Read more
Fiji’s Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, has told religious leaders that they have a special responsibility not to spread misinformation and must uphold that responsibility. He was reacting to a comment made by the Catholic Archbishop of Suva, Peter Chong, which, he said, “clearly had the potential to inflame public opinion.” Bainimarama said that it Read more
The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma has welcomed the 2013 Constitution saying it’s good that Fiji has one. Church general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra said they were grateful that government kept its promise for a new Constitution before the general elections in September next year. “Fiji needs a democratic government and we are on Read more
Fiji’s largest Christian denomination, the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma, has set up a special committee to work on the church’s submission for the draft constitution. This was confirmed by church general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra on Monday. Nawadra said the special committee was headed by church senior officials. “We will make sure the Read more
Fijians are weighing up a controversial new draft constitution aimed at restoring democracy next year. There are concerns that the document could be used by the current military ruler Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama to maintain his hold on power. Critics say that what Bainimarama is doing amounts to a “constitutional coup”. In an interview on El Read more
The colonial policy practiced in Fiji of pitting one community against another has succeeded and its effects still remain according to a preliminary report from the Constitutional Commission. The report has been circulated for a meeting to get feed-back from local experts and public servants. It says that as a result of this colonial policy Fiji is Read more
Fiji’s Constitution Commission chairman, Professor Yash Gha, has made it clear that the separation of Church and State will be enshrined in Fiji’s new constitution. “This doesn’t mean that the State is anti-religion but just a feeling that the function and responsibility of religion of beliefs within societies should be separated from the functions and policies Read more