Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka praised the National Federation Party (NFP) during its Annual Convention, noting its status as Fiji’s longest-standing political party. With a history spanning 61 years, Rabuka acknowledged the NFP’s significant contributions to the country’s development, from its pre-independence days under A.D. Patel to its current role in the Coalition Government led by him.
Rabuka expressed his trust in the NFP, particularly under the leadership of Professor Biman Prasad. He emphasized that the Coalition Government marks a milestone as the first to govern Fiji for over a year, acknowledging the inevitable challenges coalitions face, akin to family dynamics.
He recounted his bond with the late NFP leader, Mr. Justice Jai Ram Reddy, and their collaboration on the transformative 1997 Constitution, which was widely celebrated as a milestone for democracy in Fiji. Rabuka noted that the constitution was unanimously enacted in Parliament after Reddy’s inspiring speech to the Great Council of Chiefs.
However, he lamented the abrogation of this constitution in 2009, shortly after a court ruling that called for the restoration of democracy. Rabuka criticized the current 2013 Constitution for its regressive stance on human rights compared to its predecessor, which advocated for group rights and the independence of critical offices.
Referring to comments made by former Chief Justice Anthony Gates in 2018, the Prime Minister stated that the single national constituency system established by the 2013 Constitution restricts citizens’ direct contact with their elected officials, underscoring the need for a reassessment of its provisions.