Despite Fiji’s great progress, old forces that once sought to divide us still lurk beneath the surface - PM

Despite Fiji’s great progress, the old forces that once sought to divide us still lurk beneath the surface.

Those are the words of Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama while opening the 19th Attorney General’s Conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in Natadola today.

Bainimarama says our bond, as one nation and one people, must only grow stronger in the face of the threat of the old forces dividing the people of the country.

The Prime Minister says we cannot take even one step backward.

Bainimarama says we cannot slip back into the dark years of ethnic and religious division and weak institutions.

He also says that we must condemn — powerfully and openly – any who seek to drag us back to that destructive, backward and personalised way of thinking.

Bainimarama says the constitution establishes our common national identity, as equals, as Fijians.

He says as a result, we stand together today, more united than at any other time in our history.

The opening of the 19th Attorney General’s Conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in Natadola [Photo: Fijian Government]

The Prime Minister says the government has put Fiji on a new course of prosperity, with eight straight years of economic growth.

Bainimarama says the rapid rate of our progress is also owed, in many ways, to our Constitution.

He says our constitution has settled – once and for all ‑ issues that were once deeply mired in politics; protection of the ownership of communally owned iTaukei lands, rights of tenants, citizenship, identity and civil, political and socio‑economic rights. 

The Prime Minister says with those matters legally and constitutionally settled, we have and can move on to issues that carry far more weight in unleashing our nation’s full potential; economic empowerment, transparency, inclusiveness, accountability and building strong, independent institutions.

Bainimarama also says that in a modern society, truth‑seeking should be a vital exercise for each and every Fijian.

He says this isn’t always easy, especially when some find it in their best political interest to spread misinformation to try and derail Fiji’s progress and cause instability.

Bainimarama says for example, social media, when used correctly, can be an invaluable tool for spreading information, and encouraging healthy discourse. However, it is also increasingly becoming a tool that is misused to manufacture lies, breed intolerance, and incite confusion.

The Prime Minister says such abuse, as seen in other countries, may require deterrent measures.

He has asked all Fijians to operate as independent fact‑checkers, especially in the upcoming election.

Bainimarama calls on people to look at Fiji through a critical lens; whether that’s with social media or the news media or just talking among fellow Fijians. He says people should rely on facts, rely on evidence and use information to spread and do social good.