6 Jul 2015

Fiji PM reiterates no referendum on flag

6:05 pm on 6 July 2015

Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has told parliament there will be no referendum on whether Fiji should change its national flag.

A selection of the finalists of Fiji's new flag

A selection of the finalists of Fiji's new flag Photo: newfijiflag.com

He told the house the simple answer was no to a question raised by the leader of the opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa.

The government recently extended consultations on the design of a new flag which Mr Bainimarama says should reflect a modern Fiji and do away with remnants of the country's colonial past.

There has been fierce debate in the country about the flag and a poll conducted by Tebbutt Research and the Fiji Times found at least 86 percent of Fijians would prefer to vote on whether the flag should be changed.

FBC News reports another opposition MP asked the prime minister why his answer was so brief.

He replied that the opposition was against anything progressive.