Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula has expressed his belief that the military should revert to its original function from before November 2006. In an interview, Ratu Viliame emphasized that this adjustment is necessary and should be addressed in light of the 2013 Constitution.
He pointed out that the role of the military was clearly delineated in the 1970 Constitution, and he argued that politicizing the military negatively impacts the morale of its personnel. Ratu Viliame remarked that the inclusion of the military’s current role in the 2013 Constitution appears to serve the interests of certain individuals.
The responsibilities of the military are detailed in Section 131 of the 2013 Constitution. Specifically, Section 131(2) assigns the Republic of Fiji Military Forces the obligation to ensure the security, defense, and welfare of Fiji and its citizens at all times.
Furthermore, Ratu Viliame noted that other constitutional provisions, especially those restricting resource utilization, require reevaluation. He mentioned attending a forum with resource owners who questioned when the laws governing these resources would be updated. “Time is moving, and we want to move with it,” he stated. “For instance, the Mining Act cannot be addressed until there is a change to the Constitution,” he added.
Ratu Viliame also referenced a recent public lecture by Professor Anthony Regan, an Australian constitutional law expert, who commented on the Constitution’s wording. He noted that Prof. Regan highlighted issues with the Constitution’s English, which creates uncertainty. Ratu Viliame asserted that fostering doubt in this crucial time is detrimental, labeling it as a dangerous situation.
He concluded by emphasizing the urgency of development, stating, “The world is not going to wait for us, so we need to get it right and start developing our resources to try and catch up.”