13 December, 2025, 1:02 pm Central - 24°C Rain

Fatiaki and Prof. Narsey don’t recommend ethnic-based voting
We have moved beyond ethnic constituencies – Prof. Narsey

Fatiaki and Prof. Narsey don’t recommend ethnic-based voting

We have moved beyond ethnic constituencies – Prof. Narsey

By Mansi Chand
05/04/2025

As people have a chance to give their opinions on the country’s electoral laws, the Fiji Law Reform Commission Chair and former Chief Justice, Daniel Fatiaki and Commissioner Professor Wadan Narsey don’t agree with bringing back the ethnic-based voting system.

They highlighted this during fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan when asked whether they would get rid of things like race-based voting.

Fatiaki says the Commission he is chairing is very unlikely to recommend that we go down that route as the nation has developed enough to be able to vote as a nation rather than on ethnic lines.

He says this does not mean that people feel uncomfortable voting for their own.

Professor Narsey says we have moved beyond those ethnic constituencies and people can also think about one statistical result of a proportional system.

The Commissioner says there are a lot of people who came into the Parliament under the 'Superman' umbrella, but there is a mixture of indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians.

Fatiaki and Professor Narsey are part of the Commission to review the electoral system of Fiji.

We had also sent questions to different party leaders to get their responses to the comments made by the Electoral Reform Chair and Commissioner.

They are yet to respond.

Nationwide consultations for the electoral law reforms start on Monday.

You can watch the full Straight Talk video on our website fijivillage.

Click here for more stories on Electoral law reform consultations

FEATURE NEWS
Moderate chance of TD03F to become a cyclone by Monday
A flash flood alert and heavy rain alert remains in force for the whole of Fiji, and the Tropical Disturbance located near the Solomon Islands which i...
3 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Yavusa Burenivalu ready to bury remains of Ro Veidovi
The Yavusa Burenivalu are ready to bury the ashes of Ro Veidovi Logavatu, who was taken to the US in 1840 accused of murdering at least ten American ...
55 minutes ago

Naivalurua urges new RFMF recruits to uphold ethics on and off duty
Soldiers must think critically, communicate clearly and uphold ethical standards both on and off duty. Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua ...
1 hour ago

St Christopher’s Home children celebrate early Christmas with Ministry of Information
35 children of St Christopher’s Home in Nakasi were treated to an early Christmas as the Ministry of Information and National Archives of Fiji ...
1 hour ago

Single mother's dedication, resilience and hard work ensures completion of her studies at UniFiji
Despite facing personal challenges, including becoming a young mother at the start of Year 12, Milika Vereivalu from Yalava Village in Macuata says ...
2 hours ago

Flash Flood and Heavy Rain Alerts in force for Fiji
A Flash Flood Alert and a Heavy Rain Alert remains in force for the whole of Fiji.A trough of low pressure remains slow moving over Fiji and it is ...
4 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Sonia Shanaaz says silent treatment hurts as she waits for assistance for her daughter with cerebral palsy
Sonia Shanaaz, the mother of 10-year-old Aarna who was born with cerebral palsy, says silent treatment hurts after she reached out to the ...
1 day ago

I do not support police officers being charged on public opinions and without evidence - COMPOL
Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu says he will stand by his officers, and he does not support any officer being charged based on public opinion ...
1 day ago

Dubai 7s 2025
The Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s side are working on their fitness as they prepare for the start of the 2025/2026 World 7s Series this ...
5 days ago

TOP