Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka emphasized the significance of the National Federation Party (NFP) as Fiji’s longest-standing political party during the NFP Annual Convention. Celebrating its 61-year history, Rabuka noted the NFP’s critical influence in shaping the nation, starting from the pre-independence period under the late A.D. Patel at the Constitutional Conference in the UK to its representation in the Legislative Council in the 1960s and its current role in the Coalition Government.
Rabuka expressed his trust in the NFP, especially in its leader, Professor Biman Prasad, and highlighted that this Coalition Government is the first to govern Fiji for over a year. He acknowledged the challenges typical of coalitions but stressed that their focus and determination set experienced leaders apart.
Reflecting on his bond with the NFP, Rabuka mentioned his friendship with the late Party Leader Mr. Justice Jai Ram Reddy, who passed away in August 2022. He recalled their collaboration on the 1997 Constitution, a significant milestone for Fiji, which was unanimously enacted in Parliament following Justice Reddy’s influential address to the Great Council of Chiefs. This constitution was recognized worldwide for its emphasis on perseverance, dialogue, and consensus.
Rabuka lamented that this prominent legal framework was abrogated on April 10, 2009, shortly after the Fiji Court of Appeal mandated the restoration of democracy. He contrasted the progressive nature of the 1997 Constitution, which upheld fundamental human rights and group rights, with the regressive aspects of the 2013 Constitution.
He pointed out that the 2013 Constitution lacks the protections for group rights found in its predecessor and noted that as explained by former Chief Justice Anthony Gates in 2018, its single national constituency model undermines the direct connection between voters and their elected officials. Consequently, Rabuka asserted that a reconsideration of the 2013 Constitution is essential.