The National Security and Defence Review (NSDR) Taskforce in Fiji is urging the Prime Minister to obtain formal approval from the Great Council of Chiefs for the use of the term “Fijian” to describe the nationality of all citizens of Fiji. During the unveiling of the report yesterday, Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua expressed that this is a promising beginning and plans to advance the discussion.
The report indicates that some stakeholders believe that adopting “Fijian” as a national label unifies the population and fosters social cohesion. It also suggests that referring this matter to the Great Council of Chiefs, who safeguard indigenous Fijian identity, represents an act of reconciliation.
This recommendation allows the Great Council of Chiefs to deliberate on the issue, potentially following in the footsteps of their ancestors who signed the Deed of Cession on October 10, 1874, thereby leaving a meaningful legacy and showing their commitment to the nation’s interests. The report emphasizes that “such an act of reconciliation will profoundly improve social cohesion.”