The Opposition Whip of the group 9-bloc, Viliame Naupoto, is anticipated to deliver an end-of-the-week statement in Parliament focused on the review of the 2013 Constitution. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka made this announcement in response to inquiries about the government’s plans regarding the constitutional review.
Mr. Rabuka acknowledged the insights shared by Professor Anthony Regan from the Australian National University during his remarks at the Fiji National University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Leadership Seminar held in Nasinu last week. Prof. Regan emphasized that retaining Fiji’s Constitution “as it is” should not be considered a viable option.
“It was not a lecture; it was just his opinion on possible developments,” stated Mr. Rabuka. He noted that they have taken into account certain elements from Prof. Regan’s address.
The Prime Minister indicated that they would await Naupoto’s statement at the end of the week to understand his intentions on the subject. He expressed a commitment to gathering diverse opinions as the government navigates this process legally and effectively.
Mr. Rabuka affirmed that the government plans to engage with the public to gather feedback on the constitutional review, potentially through a referendum or by inviting submissions from citizens. He mentioned that there would be opportunities later in the year to conduct further parliamentary discussions on the matter, with plans to introduce a parliamentary resolution to initiate this process.