The People’s Alliance has today apologised to members of the public who have been offended or insulted by an opinion piece that was shared on the party’s official facebook page.
Leader Sitiveni Rabuka says the party stands for the rights and progress of all Fijians.
He adds that the People’s Alliance recognizes the right of every Fijian citizen and national to call Fiji home, which is expressly stated in the introductory section of the Memorandum of Understanding that he proudly signed with the NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad, on 8th April, this year. Rabuka says the party is bound by its constitution to seek a united and prosperous nation.
He urges it is time now for Fijians to reach across the barriers that have separated them; to join hands and make a new, complete and happy Fiji.
In a statement, the People’s Alliance says the opinion piece was shared on Tuesday, 9th August to mark the United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2022.
The party stresses that it nor the author of the opinion, had any intention to offend, insult or incite hatred against any person or group of persons on the basis of their race or ethnicity. The party acknowledges the varying views on the word ‘visitor’ and ‘vulagi’ and that they provide different meanings in relation to the various circumstances and contexts, in which they are used.
The People’s Alliance says it also welcomes the educational value of healthy and constructive debates on issues of public interests however, the party in considering the criticisms and concerns, provoked by the opinion piece and that its purpose was not to harm any one, has removed it from its facebook page.
