Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is urging all Fijians to remain calm following the presentation of the Constitutional Review Commission's report and recommendations.
Rabuka says the Commission has completed its work and presented its recommendations.
He says these are recommendations, not decisions of Government.
The Prime Minister says Cabinet will now carefully consider what has been proposed before determining the way forward.
He says that he is aware that there is particular concern about the recommendation relating to Fiji's status as a secular state adding that his Christian faith is well known, but as he has stated previously that simply declaring Fiji a Christian state is not what makes us Christian.
Rabuka says Christianity should be reflected in the way we live — through humility, kindness, compassion, hard work, service and love for one another, and that remains his view.
He says our Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and other brothers and sisters must never feel that their faith, freedom or place in Fiji is threatened, as they are an integral part of our nation, and their right to practise their faith freely must always be respected and protected.
The Prime Minister is also appealing to his fellow political leaders to be responsible with their words.
He says they can have different views on these recommendations without turning an important national discussion into a political, racial or religious battle.
Rabuka says he is concerned that some commentary, including from anonymous accounts and online trolls, is already attempting to create anger, fear and panic, stressing not to allow misinformation or inflammatory rhetoric to divide us.
He says Cabinet will consider the recommendations carefully.
The Prime Minister says there may be recommendations they support, others they do not, and others that require further consideration.
He says as 1 Corinthians 16:14 reminds us: “Let all that you do be done in love.”
Rabuka says that is the spirit in which we should approach this important national discussion.
