Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed his support for amending the 2013 Constitution, emphasizing the government’s commitment to review it. During his address in Parliament, Rabuka highlighted the importance of the Constitution in outlining state power, citizens’ rights, and accountability for those in authority.
He noted that, given Fiji’s diverse ethnic and cultural composition, it is crucial for the Constitution to be developed through a process of consensus and ownership among all communities. Rabuka acknowledged past events from 1987 but stated that the global understanding of ethnic dynamics has evolved since then.
He reflected on the late Archbishop Petero Mataca’s wisdom regarding inclusion in Fiji’s national identity, stressing that everyone, regardless of their origins, shares a connection to the land. The Prime Minister also addressed the risks posed by global upheavals and the potential for ethnic differences to be exploited.
Rabuka reiterated the significance of democracy, expressing a desire for open discourse where differing opinions can be heard, aiming to foster a collaborative approach to the nation’s constitutional future.