PSC to look into alleged racist remarks by PS for iTaukei Affairs

The Public Service Commission will be looking into the alleged racist remarks by Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs Jone Navakamocea on his social media page.

While responding to questions by fijivillage News, Public Service Commission Chair Luke Rokovada says they do not condone such messages.

He says they will be communicating with the officer concerned to establish the authenticity of such messages.

When questioned by fijivillage News, Navakamocea said “no comments”.

Navakamocea also chose not to give any comments when questioned if it was his social media post.

Meanwhile, Dialogue Fiji Executive Director Nilesh Lal has strongly criticized Navakamocea where he says it is deeply racist, inflammatory remarks about Indo-Fijians - baselessly accusing them of having global domination agenda, peddling propaganda, and playing the “victim game.”

Lal says he dismisses their historical suffering, and portrays them as a threat to indigenous Fijians.

He says yet, this man has been appointed as a Permanent Secretary - the highest civil service role in a government ministry.

The Executive Director says in any functioning liberal democracy - New Zealand, Australia, Canada, UK, German - this would be unthinkable, and strongly denounced by a broad section of society.

He says in those countries, a person who openly peddles hate or racially charged conspiracy theories would be immediately disqualified from public office, face public condemnation from across the political spectrum, potentially be investigated for hate speech, and lose public trust along with their position overnight.

Lal says public servants are meant to serve all citizens, and not promote racial division.

He says Fiji is a multiracial society, not an ethno-state and appointing individuals who hold and spread such dangerous views to senior positions is a betrayal of our democratic values, our national unity and a grave threat to social cohesion.

The Executive Director says the government has talked about promoting social cohesion yet the civil service bosses seems to be totally insenstive to this.

He says if we are serious about building a cohesive, inclusive Fiji, we cannot stay silent when those who power harbour and promote racial hatred, are appointed to occupy such seats of power.

Lal adds regardless of ethnicity, every right thinking Fijian should be much outraged by this.