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| The dismissed CEO |
But this is exactly what has happened.
The Minister of Economy and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has dismissed CEO Kemueli Naiqama, allegedly for using shakey sampling methods and then releasing income data which, among other things, showed differences in poverty levels by race/ethnicity.' (Confirmation of dismissal.)
One has to ask whether it was a concern about the methodology, the mention of race, or the findings which could be seen to reflect poorly on government that was his major concern. The AG is no statistician but he is certainly a powerful and very prickly politician.
Mention or publication of anything to do with race has been a "no-no" and "do not mention" since the Bainimarama government assumed power in 2006. The intention was understandable as an aid to nation-building when the political situation was fragile, but ten years on Fiji has made progress in suppressing extreme iTaukei ethno-nationalism and advancing economic participation by iTaukei.
Today, having a national identity should not mean a nation having to hide the ethnicities within the nation which, unfortunately, the Bainimarama government has continued to do to the extent that it is not even mentioned in national censuses.
Being an Indo-Fijian or Māori Kiwi makes one no more or no less a Fijian or New Zealander.
Hiding ethnicity is counter-productive. Māori and iTaukei health issues, for example, differ from the overall population, as do other social problems, debt levels, unemployment, education levels, and so on. See NFP leader Biman Prasad's 2019 comments "Calling us all Fijians does not magically make us all the same. Data on ethnicity is universally accepted as a vital tool for development. It does not need to be divisive which seems to be the irrational fear that AG has." Click here. The dismissal of Kemueli Naiqama is an overreaction that reflects poorly on the Fiji First government.
For his part the dismissed Naiqama says Government needs to consult a data expert to understand the statistics in the survey. He says he has discharged his responsibility as a trained statistician to the best of his ability without fear or favour. "We cannot pick up on one or two variables like race and religion separately from other issues, and think that one is addressing or dealing with poverty,” he said.
“We have to embrace all contributing variables of poverty and collectively allow all stakeholders whether its government, private sectors or religious bodies to identify their thematic areas.
“All Government, private sectors, non-profit organisations or religious bodies needed to provide necessary budgetary allocation and intervention programmes to reduce poverty,” he said.
He said this way everyone will be working towards for the country to achieve its sustainable development goal one which is no poverty.
Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry called the sacking of the CEO of Fiji Bureau of Stats is disgraceful, shameful and unethical.
SODELPA Leader, Viliame Gavoka says to hear that the Fiji Bureau of Statistics CEO, Kemueli Naiqama, was unceremoniously dismissed and escorted off the premises for the poverty report in Fiji, says a lot about the type of democracy we have in Fiji.
National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says the termination of Fiji Bureau and Statistics CEO Kemueli Naiqama’s contract shows the dictatorial and military-style operation by the government.
https://www.fijivillage.com/indepth/2021-2020-Household-Income-and-Expenditure-Survey-Report-r5x4f8/ Ali
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator and member of the Fiji CSO Alliance, Shamima Ali is calling on the Prime Minister to immediately sack Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum because at end of the day, the actions of his ministers, good or bad, is a direct reflection on the Prime Minister’s leadership.
Following the sacking of the CEO of Fiji Bureau of Statistics, Ali says it would be even better if the Minister of many portfolios does the right thing and resigns for the good of Fiji.
-- ACW
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