CCF welcomes announcement of public consultations

The Citizens Constitutional Forum has welcomed the move by the Prime Minister to announce the public consultations for the formulation of the new Fijian constitution next week.

Chief Executive Officer Reverend Akuila Yabaki said that the removal of ethnic-based voting and the reduction of the voting age to 18 coincides with CCF’s submission to the Reeves Commission in 1996 and notes that these changes are a step in the right direction for Fiji.

Reverend Yabaki recommended that all citizens must come to the table and present their views on what they feel should be included.

He added that decisions have to be made on the issue of the role of the military and the Great Councils of Chiefs.

He said that the protection of the ownership of resources such as the land, the environment, flora and fauna may need to be enshrined in the new document.

Reverend Yabaki said that individuals who hold on the 1997 Constitution may also need to be heard and their arguments included in the processes so that the process is truly inclusive.


Story by: Sneh Chaudhry