Seven prominent Fijian figures were formally sworn in this week as members of the Government-appointed Constitution Review Commission, marking a key step toward a nationwide consultation on the country’s supreme law. The ceremony was officiated by President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu at the State House, formalising the panel that will be tasked with gathering public views and making recommendations on possible amendments to the 2013 Constitution.
Sevuloni Valenitabua will chair the commission. Other members sworn in are Dr John Fatiaki, Merewalesi Nailatikau, Conway Begg, Dr Neelesh Goundar, Ami Kohli and Fiji National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo‑Baba. The Government first announced the establishment of the review body in a Cabinet statement on January 21 last year; the swearing-in completes the formal appointment process and enables the commission to begin its work in earnest.
The commission has been created to consult Fijians on a constitution that has attracted criticism since its adoption in 2013. Objections cited by critics have focused both on the process by which the 2013 Constitution was introduced and on elements of its substantive content. Government ministers have said the review is intended to address those long-standing concerns and to ensure the Constitution reflects the aspirations of all Fijians.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka previously told the public that constitutional review and potential changes were major issues during the 2022 General Election, with many political parties including the topic in their campaigns. The formal swearing-in of the commission’s members represents the latest development toward fulfilling that electoral promise and moves the process from planning into the phase of public engagement and evidence gathering.
According to the terms announced by Cabinet, the commission is expected to conduct consultations across the country, collect submissions from citizens and stakeholder groups, and compile a set of recommendations for constitutional amendments where appropriate. The panel’s work will be closely watched by political leaders, civil society, chiefs and interest groups given the sensitivities surrounding constitutional change in Fiji and the potential implications for governance, rights and electoral law.
With membership now confirmed and the public mandate clear, the immediate task for the commission will be to publish its consultation schedule and outreach methodology so Fijians from urban centres to rural and maritime communities can take part. How the commission manages inclusivity, the framing of questions for public input and its engagement with a wide range of stakeholders will likely shape both the scope of recommended reforms and the level of public confidence in any subsequent proposals.
The swearing-in at State House is the most concrete sign to date that the review will move forward. The commission’s findings and any recommended changes to the Constitution could trigger significant political debate, and potentially parliamentary or referendum processes, depending on the nature of proposed amendments. For now, the establishment of the panel and the start of consultations are the latest developments in a process that the Government says aims to align Fiji’s supreme law more closely with the nation’s collective aspirations.
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