The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) has published a plain-language guide to help Fijians understand and take part in the ongoing review of the 2013 Constitution, the committee announced at a launch in Suva on Friday. Titled “Our Constitution, Our Voice,” the guide is being released ahead of nationwide awareness programs and face-to-face consultations set to begin on April 20.
Officiating at the launch with CRC chair Sevuloni Valenitabua was Acting Attorney‑General Siromi Turaga. Valenitabua said the guide was developed to demystify what a constitution is, explain why it matters and set out how the review process will work, with the explicit aim of making participation accessible to all Fijians. The publication includes a set of guiding questions to help individuals, communities and organisations prepare submissions, and the commission is also preparing a simple submission template to standardise input.
“We understand that communities communicate differently,” Valenitabua said, noting that some people will want time to read, others to discuss, and some to reflect with family, faith groups or villages. He stressed the review would create “space for dialogue, careful thought and collective discussion” and urged people to ask questions and share perspectives so the constitution can “reflect the lived experiences and aspirations of the people it serves.”
To broaden reach, the CRC said the guide will be produced in iTaukei, Hindi and Rotuman, and printed copies will be handed out during outreach activities. An electronic version will be published on the Fiji Government website and on the government’s Facebook page. The commission emphasised that the guide will be free of charge to ensure equal access.
The committee also outlined how submissions can be made. Written contributions can be emailed to commissioners2026@gmail.com or hand-delivered to the CRC office at Level 9, Suvavou House, Victoria Parade, Suva. An online platform for submissions is being finalised and will be launched when the public consultations commence on April 20, the CRC said.
The guide and the scheduled outreach mark the latest development in a review process the government has framed as public-led and participatory. Earlier statements from government leaders signalled a commitment to a review that incorporates broad community input; the CRC’s guide and the planned nationwide consultations are intended to operationalise that commitment by helping citizens prepare meaningful submissions.
With consultations about to move into communities, the CRC’s focus is on lowering barriers to participation — through translations, simplified explanations and practical prompts — so that submissions are informed and representative. The committee has framed the next phase as a combination of awareness-raising and structured dialogue, aiming to gather input that can be analysed and considered as the review progresses.
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