Fiji Prime Minister joins Tuilaepa in opposing same sex marriage

By Mata'afa Keni Lesa 10 April 2019, 12:00AM

One more prominent Pacific leader has expressed his opposition to same sex marriage. 

Fiji's Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, has become the latest Pacific leader to declare that same sex marriage would never be allowed in his country under his leadership.

In making the announcement, Bainimarama joined Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi who made a similar announcement for Samoa in 2017.

According to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation News, Mr. Bainimarama said there had been a lot of talk on social media about the issue and that there was speculation some churches supported the idea of same-sex marriage.

But Mr. Bainimarama said it must be made clear to everyone that Fiji was a God-fearing country and that same-sex marriage would never happen in Fiji.

In 2016, Mr. Bainimarama suggested that same-sex couples should move to Iceland, where it's legal, labelling marriage equality "rubbish."

His Samoan counterpart Prime Minister Tuilaepa has been very vocal on the issue.

In 2017, Tuilaepa slammed the door shut on a call to legalise gay marriage in Samoa. 

At the time, the Prime Minister made the point when gay marriage and abortion were raised with the suggestion of legalising them in Samoa.

But Tuilaepa was adamant in his response.

“Government will never ever accept legalising abortion for any purposes regardless,” Tuilaepa said.  “It is murder and similar to giving our women the license to kill.

 “And that is absolutely against our religious Christian values, and beliefs. It’s also totally against our culture and our way of life.

 “The same goes for same sex marriage.  It will never be accepted by government because it undermines our tradition and our culture.”

Tuilaepa added: “I pray that this is the last time that these issues are brought to the government and my attention because it’s a useless waste of government stationary and time to acknowledge or even to respond to such suggestions.”

By Mata'afa Keni Lesa 10 April 2019, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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