1 Jul 2014

NFP wants apology from Bainimarama for alleged racist remark

7:38 pm on 1 July 2014

The leader of the Fiji National Federation Party is calling for the Prime Minister, Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama, to apologise to Indo-Fijians for a comment he made about the community last week.

The Sydney Morning Herald, which had a journalist on Rear Admiral Bainimarama's campaign trail around Viti Levu, says it asked him why he had not responded to requests for a debate from a rival party leader.

It says the Prime Minister responded, quote, "He's an Indian, without me he wouldn't even be sticking around."

Biman Prasad says he knows the comment was directed at him as he challenged the Prime Minister to a debate about Fiji's economy in March, with no luck.

Dr Prasad says the comment is uncalled for.

"We feel that it was a highly irresponsible statement on the part of Mr Bainimarama. I will ask him to apologise to me personally and indeed to the Indo-Fijian people in this country. It is an outrageous comment and we strongly condemn it."

Biman Prasad says he still welcomes a debate with the Prime Minister.