Fiji constitution review report set to be handed to president

A seven-member commission commissioned to review Fiji's 2013 Constitution will present its final report to President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu on Monday. The Fiji government's Constitutional Review Commission commenced its work in mid-March and was given a deadline of August 31. The Commission's mandate included conducting nationwide public consultations, gathering and analyzing submissions on the constitution, and delivering recommendations to the president, Cabinet, and ultimately parliament.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka emphasized during a parliamentary session in late April that this review process provided an opportunity for Fijians from every community and walk of life to participate in shaping the supreme law. The government announced on Sunday night that the Commission would submit its final report to the president today.

The submission follows extensive nationwide consultations, during which the Commission traveled across Fiji to hear directly from citizens on the 2013 Constitution and the nation's constitutional future. Fiji has experienced four national constitutions since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1970. The 2013 Constitution, enacted under the Bainimarama administration, has faced criticism as being unfair and not representative of the Fijian people's will.

Indigenous leaders, including the Great Council of Chiefs, have unanimously rejected the 2013 Constitution, citing it as anti-indigenous. Others have blamed the document for societal ills and the erosion of values. Proponents argue that the 2013 Constitution eliminated race-based electoral rolls and established equal citizenship.

Once the Constitutional Review Commission submits its report, the government will shift focus to the findings and recommendations, marking the beginning of Fiji's next stage in its constitutional journey.