The Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) has lodged a formal submission with the Constitutional Review Commission seeking sweeping changes to how identity, governance and rights are defined in any future Fiji constitution — including a demand that the term “Fijian” be reserved exclusively for the iTaukei people. The detailed proposal, seen by this newsroom, packages that identity claim with a series of measures to restore the council’s traditional role in state affairs and reshape constitutional protections.
The GCC argues the exclusive use of “Fijian” for indigenous people reflects longstanding historical usage and should be recognised in law rather than treated as a new political demand. That recommendation marks a sharper posture than earlier public statements and follows months of national debate over the “common identity” clause that has featured in prior consultations and in the defeated Constitution Amendment Bill 2025. GCC chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula has previously warned that many iTaukei felt left out of past consultations; the written submission gives formal shape to those grievances.
Beyond identity, the council asks that the Deed of Cession be incorporated into the Constitution to acknowledge Fiji’s historical foundations and to restore formal recognition of customary laws and rights. The submission also calls for repeal of the provision declaring Fiji a secular state — a change that would affect how religion and custom interact with public law. The GCC frames these moves as corrective steps to ensure the Constitution more deeply reflects the nation’s history and customary governance.
The council’s recommendations extend to social and family law. The GCC proposes removing references to gender and sexual orientation from constitutional non‑discrimination protections and seeks revisions to children’s rights provisions to give parents and teachers greater discretion. These proposals, if adopted, would narrow existing protections and are likely to provoke strong reactions from civil society groups, rights advocates and communities who have lobbied for inclusive safeguards in recent constitutional debates.
On governance, the GCC has proposed regaining authority to appoint the president and vice‑president and wants a reconstituted parliamentary structure that includes a Senate representing all communities. It calls for reforms to the electoral system to strengthen provincial representation and accountability — measures the council describes as restoring traditional checks and balances while maintaining democratic legitimacy. Those proposals return to issues central to earlier coverage, where the GCC urged a greater formal role for chiefs in state decision‑making after the 2013 Constitution curtailed many customary powers.
The submission is the latest development in an evolving national conversation. The Constitutional Review Commission is currently receiving written inputs from a wide range of stakeholders; the GCC’s comprehensive package will now be weighed alongside submissions from political parties, civil society, business and other community groups. How the commission treats demands that cut across identity, religion and human rights will shape not only technical constitutional drafting but the broader political and social debate about who Fiji is meant to represent.
The GCC frames its proposals as necessary to redress perceived historical omissions and to secure the iTaukei place in national governance. For opponents, the package raises questions about minority rights, equality and the balance between customary authority and democratic institutions. With the commission process underway, the council’s submission is likely to intensify consultations and political negotiations over the scope of any constitutional revision.
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