Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has praised the National Federation Party (NFP) as Fiji’s longest-operating political party, highlighting its resilience and commitment to the nation. At the NFP Annual Convention, Rabuka noted that at 61 years old, the party has significantly influenced Fiji’s political landscape from the pre-independence period under the late A.D. Patel to its current role in the Coalition Government led by him.
Rabuka expressed his trust in the NFP, particularly through the leadership of Professor Biman Prasad. He emphasized that the current Coalition Government is the first to lead Fiji for over a year and acknowledged that, like any family, coalitions face various challenges. He believes that their focus and determination are what set resilient leaders apart from others.
The Prime Minister reminisced about his longstanding connection with the NFP, particularly through his friendship with the late Party Leader, Mr. Justice Jai Ram Reddy, who passed away in August 2022. Rabuka reflects on their collaboration on the 1997 Constitution as a significant achievement for Fiji.
He recounted Justice Reddy’s impactful address to the Great Council of Chiefs, which led to the unanimous enactment of the 1997 Constitution in Parliament. This document was celebrated worldwide as a testament to perseverance and consensus-building.
However, Rabuka lamented the abrogation of this constitution on April 10, 2009, following a court ruling demanding the restoration of democracy. He contrasted the progressive Bill of Rights in the 1997 Constitution, which protected essential rights, with the limitations imposed by the 2013 Constitution, describing it as regressive.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the 1997 Constitution safeguarded group rights, such as the Native Land Trust Act for i-Taukei landowners and the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Act for Indo-Fijian tenants. He noted that it also helped to remove politics from essential independent offices.
Rabuka emphasized the concern raised by former Chief Justice Anthony Gates in 2018 regarding the single national constituency established by the 2013 Constitution, which, according to him, limits citizens’ direct access to their elected representatives. He concluded that a review of the 2013 Constitution is necessary.