Fiji swears in seven-member Constitution Review Commission led by chair Sevuloni Valenitabua

President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu this afternoon administered the oath to seven members of the newly formed Constitution Review Commission in a ceremony held at State House. The appointments mark the formal start of the commission’s public profile as the body tasked with examining Fiji’s supreme law and considering proposals for change.

Sevuloni Valenitabua was sworn in as chair of the commission. The other members named at the ceremony are Professor Unaisi Nabobo‑Baba, Ami Kholi, Dr John Fatiaki, Merewalesi Nailatikau, Conway Begg and Dr Neelesh Goundar. The President officiated the swearing‑in, but no further details about the ceremony or additional attendees were released.

The Constitution Review Commission will be responsible for reviewing the text and operation of the constitution and advising on whether amendments or broader reforms are needed. The composition of the panel — which brings together individuals from academic, legal and public life — signals an intention to combine professional expertise with public outreach as it conducts its work, officials said in brief statements following the event.

Those statements did not include a timetable or outline for the commission’s consultations. No start date, interim deadlines or reporting timeline was announced at State House, and it remains unclear when the commission will begin public consultations or submit any recommendations to government. The absence of a published workplan leaves the schedule and scope of the review open as the commission convenes.

State House has hosted a series of official appointments and swearing‑in ceremonies in recent months, underscoring the Presidency’s continuing role in formalising key national bodies and appointments. This commissioning of the Constitution Review Commission is the latest high‑profile civic appointment to be completed at the presidential residence.

The formation of the commission is the newest development in what could become a consequential process for Fiji’s governance and law. Observers and political actors will be watching for the commission’s terms of reference, consultation processes and timetable once those details are released. For now, the government has confirmed only the membership and the President’s formal installation of the panel.