Fiji government lays foundation for constitutional changes

Fijian Constitution
photo: supply

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiweni Rabuka has reportedly confirmed that the Fijian government has begun laying the groundwork for amending the country’s constitution.

The 2013 Constitution has been criticised by political commentators and opponents of the former Fiji First Government, including Rabuka, who argued that “Imposed on the people”.

That view was strongly opposed by former leader Frank Bainimarama, currently serving a one-year jail term for abuse of power, who insisted the document was common to all Fijians. “Equal rights, equal votes of equal value and the same national identity”.

However, Rabuka’s People’s Alliance Party (PAP) 2022 Election Manifesto The constitution “contains numerous limitations that render it incompatible with international human rights law.”

“The government is in the process of preparing legislation or introducing a bill to Parliament to start the (amendment) process,” the prime minister was quoted as saying in a statement. fiji sun Monday’s report.

He told the newspaper that the constitution gave the country’s prime minister and attorney general “unusual” powers.

Fiji has had four constitutions: in 1970, 1990, 1997 and 2013.

in a A public lecture held at the Fiji National University last ThursdayAustralian academic Anthony Regan said the Fijian government could take legal action to amend the 2013 constitution, and said a review was necessary.

“I know that there are so many constitutions in the world today, but there is no constitution about the best path for the future,” Reagan said.

Rabuka told fiji sun He welcomed Reagan’s comments.

“It’s an eye-opener for a lot of people, but it’s something most of us have been thinking about,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.

An editorial Fiji Times Sunday said Reagan’s comments about the need to review the 2013 Constitution “will undoubtedly stimulate discussion of this important topic.”

“He therefore believed that the Constitution, if left to its present state, would be liable to abuse by future governments,” wrote Fred Wesley, the paper’s editor.