Is it constitutional to have a race based division in an institution in the country?
That is the question many are now asking after the Methodist Church in Fiji decided that it will continue to have an Indian Division in the church.
All race based school names were earlier changed to ensure that our schools are not named or classified by race.
Scholarships are also no longer based on race.
They are awarded on merit.
When questioned by Fijivillage, the Methodist Church in Fiji said that the name Indian Division reflects a historical aspect of the church’s work and is not representative of Indo Fijians in the country.
Church Secretary for Communications Reverend James Bhagwan says the name is not race based, but is more cultural based.
Reverend Bhagwan says looking at the make-up of the Indian Division of the Methodist Church, probably 50 percent are non-Indo-Fijians and they have no problem belonging to a Division that calls themselves Indian Division.
When asked by Fijivillage if having an Indian Division is against the Constitution, Reverend Bhagwan says it is not.
He says the name reflects the Indo Fijian culture as majority of the services are done in the Hindi language.
The Methodist Church in Fiji will continue to have an Indian Division after calls were made to change its name since it is a race‑based name for the division.
This was after the Superintendent of the Indian Division Reverend Dr. Immanuel Reuben withdrew the motion that was moved by the Indian Division of the church at their Annual Conference at Centenary Church in August last year.
We have sent questions to the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on the race based division and asked whether it is constitutional.
He is yet to comment.
