Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka praised the National Federation Party (NFP) as Fiji’s longest-operating political party, emphasizing its strength and commitment to the citizens.
During the NFP Annual Convention, Rabuka reflected on the party’s 61-year history, noting its significant contributions from the pre-independence period under the late A.D. Patel at the Constitutional Conference in the UK to its current role in the Coalition Government he leads.
He expressed strong trust in the NFP and its leader, Professor Biman Prasad, asserting that this Coalition Government is historic for governing Fiji for over a year. Rabuka acknowledged that, like any family, coalitions face challenges, but emphasized that resilience and determination define effective leadership.
The Prime Minister shared that his bond with the NFP deepened through his work with the late Party Leader, Mr. Justice Jai Ram Reddy, who passed away in August 2022. He recalled their collaboration on the landmark 1997 Constitution, a pivotal development in Fiji’s governance.
Rabuka noted that the 1997 Constitution earned worldwide recognition for its embodiment of perseverance and consensus, particularly after Reddy’s influential speech to the Great Council of Chiefs led to its unanimous enactment in Parliament.
However, he lamented the abrogation of this constitution on April 10, 2009, soon after a court ruling mandated the restoration of democracy. He criticized the current 2013 Constitution for imposing restrictions on human rights compared to the progressive 1997 version, which safeguarded group rights, including those of i-Taukei landowners and Indo-Fijian tenants.
The Prime Minister referenced former Chief Justice Anthony Gates’ remarks from 2018, highlighting the drawbacks of a single national constituency system that limits citizens’ access to their elected representatives. He concluded that a reassessment of the 2013 Constitution is warranted.