Biman Prasad Challenges Politicians to End Race-Based Politics

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad has issued a firm call to end race-based politics in Fiji, accusing certain politicians and media outlets of deliberately fueling ethnic division for political gain.

In a pointed response to claims that he has turned his back on the Indo-Fijian community, Prasad dismissed the criticism as dishonest and harmful.

“This is the politics of race that the Voreqe Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum government played for many years,” he said. “This is the same kind of politics that some other politicians who are hovering around outside of parliament now want to create—this idea of race.”

Prasad stressed that the coalition government’s policies are aimed at all Fijians, regardless of ethnicity. Citing initiatives such as back-to-school support and agriculture subsidies, he rejected the suggestion that any group is being sidelined.

“When we give $200 each back to school support, you don’t miss out because you are iTaukei or you are an Indo-Fijian,” he explained. “When we talk about subsidies to dalo, rice, and ginger farmers, we don’t look at how many Indo-Fijian farmers there are or how many iTaukei farmers there are.”

He also pointed to record cane prices under the coalition government as further evidence of inclusive policy.

Prasad’s comments come amid growing political tension and attempts by some opposition figures to stoke racial sentiments. His firm stance marks one of the clearest rejections of race-based politics by a senior government figure.

“Our government is focused on fairness, merit, and support for all communities,” he said.