CAKAUDROVE chief and Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu told the Constitution Commission at Somosomo yesterday that true racial identity would always stand out despite a common name of 'Fijians'.
He said the 1997 Constitution was sufficient in recognising its citizens and nationality as 'Fiji Islanders'.
In his submission, Ratu Naiqama spoke of a few foreign countries, their diverse ethnic groups and how ethnic groups were always labelled or picked out when anything controversial or sensational happened.
"The important point here is all that is being mooted in Fijian as a common name is highly cosmetic since the true racial identity will always stand out," Ratu Naiqama said.
"Let us not confuse ourselves with the mixing of words such as nationality and citizenship together with ethnicity.
"We all prize our personal freedom in view of the many different ethnic groups that we now live together harmoniously with and call Fiji as our home," Ratu Naiqama said.