Peoples Charter
11-Oct-2008
THE Fiji Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress at present is in a draft form only.
There are many things well written in the Charter that were very useful and good for all races to come together and move forward for the betterment for all.
His Excellency, the President officially launched the People’s Charter initiative on October 10, 2007. People should not get into panic. It is a draft.
When you go through the Charter you will find that our leaders over the years have raised some of the valid issues especially the minority views which have not been implemented.
Amblala Dahyabhai Patel (AD Patel) fought for equality for all races in Fiji for one man, one vote. He advocated the principle of ‘one country, one people and one destiny’.
How Fiji was named? I quote from Fiji of To-day by JW Burton (p24) “The Fijians themselves called their islands ‘Viti’ and the inhabitants ‘Kai Viti’. The commonly accepted spelling and pronunciation of Fiji is due to fact that the Lauan, or eastern dialect – with which the Tongans had most intercourse – sounds it “V” like an “F” and makes its “T” almost a “J”. This forms an interesting fact for philologists to explain.
The two forms, therefore, of ‘Fiji’ and ‘Viti’ are correct.”
The early Indians (Hindu in particular) who were brought to Fiji by the British people, called this country ‘Ramanik Dweep’ according to their religious beliefs.
According to their beliefs about more than 5000 years back Lord Krishna, the most important incarnation of God, appeared on this planet and performed wonderful deeds.
It is during that time in India, in the Yamuna River was a big lake. In the lake lived a big serpent know as ‘Kalia Naag’ who used to make the water dirty and poisonous. Whoever drank from the river’s water died instantly.
It is believed by the early Hindus that Lord Krishna, the most important incarnation of God brought that ‘Kalia Naag’ and left it in the Nakauvadra Range in Ra, Fiji.
The other common identity. In 1946 when I was a first-year student at the Teachers Training Institution at Davuilevu, I attended the official opening of the Fiji Teachers Union Conference held at Lilac Theatre, Suva on April 30, 1946.
While officially opening the Fiji Teacher Union Conference, the then Governor of Fiji, Sir Alexander William George Herder Grantham KCMG, while addressing the teachers said the people of Fiji be called ‘Fijian’.
The long time member of the then Legislative Council Vishnu Deo said few time in the council that he was born in Fiji and “I am a Fijian”.
In 1875 Lord Salisbury, Secretary of State for India and Minister of Queen Victoria when approaching the Indian Government to obtain indentured Indian labour made a solemn promise.
He said that as soon as Indians who emigrated to Fiji were free, they would have rights and privileges there – “In not whit inferior to those of her Majesty’s other subjects resident in the colony.”
AD Patel arrived in Fiji on October 11, 1928 and was admitted to the Fiji bar. On his arrival he fought for equality of all the races in Fiji and ‘one man one vote’.
He advocated the principle of one country, one people, one destiny till his death on October 1, 1969.
For the first time in 1929 Franchise was awarded to the Indian Community. Messrs. Vishnu Deo, Parmanand Singh and Ramchandar were elected to the Legislative Council.
While addressing the “Common Franchise” Vishnu Deo moved that the Council recommended to His Excellency the Acting Governor that he be pleased to convey by telegraphic message to His Majesty’s Government the view of this council:-
a) that political rights and status granted to Indian settlers in this Colony on racial lines are not acceptable to them; and
b) that Indians in Fiji should be granted Common Franchise along with other British subjects resident in the Colony.
Vishnu Deo’s motion was seconded by Parmanand Singh.
The above motion was rejected on November 5, 1929 and the three members later namely Deo, Singh and Racm Chandar resigned from the Legislative Council.
When no nomination for a fresh election was filed by December 16, 1929 and the communal system of franchise was thus totally rejected in favour of a common franchise.
His Excellency the Governor, Sir A.G. Murchison Fletcher K.C.M.G., C.B.F. invited Mr A. D. Patel and others at Government House on 27th of December, 1929 for the purchase of discussing the franchise and other matters affecting the Indian Community.
Mr A.D. Patel travelled by the Government boat “Adi Beti” and attended the conference.
A.D. Patel expressed his views saying that, “Communal franchise was wrong in principle and harmful in practice; the time had come in Fiji for all races to get out of their water-tight compartments and start thinking in terms of the residents of Fiji’.
The People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress is not new to Fiji. We had a Royal Charter in 1875 drawn by Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon, G.C.M.G., first resident Governor of Fiji.
The square of Government House was dressed with flags.
The day was fine and the concourse large. Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon there on September 1, 1875 read the Royal Charter and took the oath and made a little speech on the whole a success.
Immediately after these performances Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon held the first meeting of the Legislative Council.
For the betterment of our beloved nation to move the country forward there is one option that is the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party, National Federation Party, United People’s Party and the Methodist Church with other groups with suggestions and amendments with god intention get together and drawn up.
Fiji People’s Charter for Change Peace and Progress and make Fiji a better place to live for all the races in Fiji.
(The views expressed are of the author and not the Fiji Daily Post)
BAL GOVINDA |
