Adi Sivia Qoro, consultant and president of Unity Fiji, has emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive and sincere review of the 2013 Constitution. She expressed her concerns regarding the Constitution’s origins, noting that the initial draft proposed by Yash Ghai’s Constitution Commission was disregarded by the previous government, which instead implemented its own version that became law in September 2013.
Adi Sivia contended that this approach was flawed and did not incorporate genuine input from the Fijian population. The brief consultation period, she argued, was insufficient for capturing authentic public sentiment, raising doubts about the true beneficiaries of the constitution.
She further highlighted the detrimental impacts of Fiji’s past coups, which have undermined the nation’s democracy, social fabric, and economic stability. According to her, these events have hampered the country’s progress, with a deficient constitution failing to rectify the harm caused.
“It raises questions about the credibility of the nation’s democracy, as well as the negative social consequences we are currently witnessing and their repercussions on the economic wellbeing of our citizens,” she stated. “Most importantly, it has regressed the country’s development by numerous years.”
Regarding constitutional amendments, she noted that the amendment provisions make the Fiji Constitution one of the most challenging to modify globally. “This significantly impacts the democratic rights of our citizens and their involvement in shaping their own Constitution. It is essential now for the citizens to openly engage in discussions and identify a path forward,” Adi Sivia concluded.