If Voreqe Bainimarama is to be believed that the 1997 Constitution was racist and appointments made under it weren’t merit-based, then Bainimarama’s appointment as Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in March 1999 wasn’t based on merit, said National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad.
Professor Prasad was responding to Bainimarama’s comments during a Fiji First campaign meeting where he attacked the 1997 Constitution, People’s Alliance Leader Sitiveni Rabuka and the NFP Leader.
“Bainimarama should look at himself in the mirror before labeling me a traitor for working together with Mr Rabuka and accusing both us of defending what the Fiji First Leader describes as racist”.
“Labeling a constitution racist, that was formulated and received unanimous support of both Houses of Parliament, is treachery”.
“Abrogating the 1997 Constitution is treachery.
Trashing the Fiji Court of Appeal judgment on 10th April, 2009, is treachery”.
“Initiating a process for a new Constitution in 2012, appointing a Constitution Commission headed by Professor Yash Ghai, and then burning the draft Constitution of the Commission and abandoning the constitution process, is treachery”.
“Before shooting of his mouth like a mis-guided missile, Bainimarama should pause and take a breath to realise the consequences of his disparaging remarks”.
“By calling the 1997 Constitution racist and accusing Rabuka of trying to remove senior civil servants and replacing them with those lacking merit, the Fiji First Leader has ridiculed his own appointment as Army Commander under section 112(2) of the 1997 Constitution”.
And this appointment was made when Rabuka’s SVT government was in power”.
“It is useless to advice the Prime Minister to talk about issues affecting our people because he, together with his side-kick the Attorney-General and their puppets have shamelessly resorted to gutter-level and racist rhetoric and a campaign of fear-mongering, lies and deceit”.
Professor Biman Prasad Leader