One of the coalition government partners, the National Federation Party has outrightly rejected Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka’s attempt to fast-track the Constitution Amendment Bill by announcing that the Referendum on the Constitution will take place on 9th December without it firstly undergoing required parliamentary and constitutional process.
NFP Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says the draft Constitution belongs to the people, it does not belong to the politicians, the politicians should not try to force it on us, and the Prime Minister must reconsider his position and respect the people.
Professor Prasad says the Prime Minister’s announcement is inconsistent with Section 160(3) of the 2013 Constitution that is clear on the National Referendum process.
Professor Prasad says this is not how to formulate a genuine, meaningful and fair Constitution for all our people.
He says it is clear that the Prime Minister is pre-empting the outcome even before the bipartisan special parliamentary committee unanimously agreed to by parliament last week has met and started scrutiny and consultation with the people on the draft constitution.
Professor Prasad says the NFP agreed to vote for the Constitution Bill at its second reading last week because they want the people to participate in the constitution making process.
He says they should discuss it and agree on the changes it needs but they do not agree to this fast-tracking.
The NFP Leader says they must first go back to the people to ask them what they think, all our citizens must understand what the draft Constitution says and what it means for them, and we could never do this in 30 days.
He says if this process must be finished after the next election, so be it.
Professor Prasad says the Prime Minister is now trying to rush the process by announcing a referendum on 9th December and this is not his decision as under the law only the President can do that, and only after the Bill has been passed by Parliament.
He says NFP, along with People's Alliance and SODELPA, rejected the 2013 Constitution because it was a rushed document, imposed by force by Voreqe Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Professor Prasad says they cannot make the same mistakes.
He stresses the current draft Constitution must be considered in Committee and it will take longer than 30 days for public consultations.
We have sent questions to Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka. He is yet to respond.
