Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran says her vote on the Constitution Amendment Bill will be guided by her conscience and whether the final Bill protects the rights and interests of all communities.
Kiran says if she votes in favour of the Bill, she will face disciplinary action from her party National Federation Party for going against its directive, while voting against it could result in the Prime Minister asking her to leave her ministerial position.
She says she acknowledges and respects her party's directive, however, the Bill was presented by Government and is now going through a parliamentary process.
Kiran says the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee has been listening to submissions and making changes to the proposed amendments.
She wants to see the final version of the Bill when it returns to Parliament before making a decision.
Kiran says she needs to be satisfied that the rights of all communities, including both minority and majority groups, are protected.
She says she will make a conscience vote, based on what she understands from the people, their needs and whether the proposed changes will protect them.
Responding to rumours questioning her contribution to the community, Kiran says she has always been committed to helping people, particularly during difficult times.
She recalls the 2000 civil unrest when she put her life at risk to support people who were evicted and whose homes were burnt.
She says she also helped ensure children from affected families could continue going to school.
Kiran says she continued supporting communities during Cyclone Amy and other disasters by providing food and water, including a truckload of supplies when she did not have a job.
She says National Farmers Union representative Suren Lal can also speak about her efforts to help people access water.
Kiran says she has had opportunities to leave Fiji over the past two decades, including through several visas, but chose to remain and contribute to the country.
She says when she entered politics, she asked herself whether she could live with her conscience, and that same principle continues to guide her decisions.
Asked whether she intends to contest the next general election, Kiran says she will make that decision after seeing and understanding the final Constitution Bill.
