By Paras Ramoutar, IANS,
Port-of-Spain : Athletes from Fiji will not be able to compete in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year, according to a statement by the Commonwealth Secretariat following the conclusion of the three-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
This was one of the decisions taken at the CHOGM held here Nov 27-29.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led a powerful delegation to the summit and returned home Sunday.
CHOGM leaders “observed that Commonwealth sporting events represent a significant public demonstration of the unity of the Commonwealth as a family of members with a shared commitment to fundamental values. They affirmed that sporting ties under the Commonwealth name are inseparable from the values of the Commonwealth Games Association (CGA)”.
The leaders expressed “deep concern at the further deterioration of the situation in Fiji Islands with regard to its adherence to fundamental values, including the abrogation of the constitution in April 2009, ongoing restrictions on human rights including freedom of speech and assembly, and the interim government’s decision to further delay election until 2014”.
Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth after its self-appointed leader Frank Bainimarana refused to hold elections by 2010.
Fiji was among several countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Mauritius, Suriname and South Africa which received Indian immigrants in the 19th century.