It is time we reflect on our moral and ethical compass - Raj

The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Director Ashwin Raj says it is time we reflect on our moral and ethical compass because it is skewed.

Raj says everyday we break curfew laws and spread hatred and misinformation, we are putting our doctors and nurses, police and army personnel at risk, we are chewing up resources that we will so badly need to arrest the economic uncertainty in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Ashwin Raj is calling on people to please do the right thing and stop being selfish.

Raj says it is increasingly evident that COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem of fake news, spreading of misinformation and the propagation of hate speech on the social media encouraging vilification on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, and place of origin.

He says not only does this put lives at risk but it equally places an enormous burden on authorities and state resources which will be stretched to its limits in containing not only the spread of the virus but equally containing with the same zeal the spread of misinformation, fake news and hate speech by having to focus their energy and efforts in ascertaining the facts and setting the records straight.

Raj says in the end, only the poor and the marginalized will pay the price of our recklessness.