Prime Minister, if you believe you require immunity, or if certain members of your Cabinet require it, I ask you to list the activities for which immunity is needed and apply to the Mercy Commission for the President to grant a pardon for those activities.
University lecturer Dr Mosmi Bhim made this call to Prime Minister and Chair of the Joint Committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 Sitiveni Rabuka at Vunimono Hall in Nausori, saying the public deserves to know which activities require protection.
Dr Bhim says identifying the activities and seeking pardons would provide a transparent way of dealing with the matter, rather than granting broad constitutional immunity.
She says the proposed protection would cover the offices of the President and Prime Minister, Cabinet, the military, Police, Corrections Service, Judiciary, Public Service and other public office-holders until the first sitting of Parliament under the new Constitution, expected in 2028.
Dr Bhim has also questioned what wrongdoing these institutions have committed that requires immunity, adding blanket protection risks damaging their reputations by creating the impression that they have something to hide.
She has also made a submission to remove the immunity clause, stressing that democracy requires accountability, transparency and equality before the law.
Dr Bhim warns that granting immunity to the Prime Minister and Cabinet until 2028 would undermine Fiji’s transition to democracy by placing some people beyond public accountability.
The academic is also calling for the consultation process to be extended so that a wider part of our country can take part in it.
She further says the proposed emergency powers that would allow the House of Representatives to extend its term by up to 12 months if its term expires during a state of emergency.
Dr Bhim says the provision could be misused to keep the Government in power.
Dr Bhim has also questioned how the Government would ensure accountability when 14 of the 23 members of the Senate would be nominated by the Bose Levu Vakaturaga.
She says some chiefs supported previous coups and has questioned what would prevent that from happening again.
SODELPA's proposed candidate Pateresio Nunu has also called on the Government to reconsider retaining immunity, saying the Constitution Review Commission had proposed removing the provisions while recognising the legal complexities and the need to consider reconciliation and alternative remedies.
He says continued constitutional protection raises questions about equality before the law, justice for victims, accountability for unconstitutional conduct and the prevention of future coups.
Nunu is recommending publishing an independent legal assessment of existing immunity and the lawful options for reform, alongside clarification on whether the Government’s proposal preserves existing protection or creates additional immunity.
He is also calling for safeguards against future military intervention, an express prohibition on unlawful government takeovers without automatic constitutional protection, and arrangements for truth-telling, reconciliation, reparations and remedies for victims.
Nunu, who is a fourth-generation descendant of Melanesian labourers from Malaita in the Solomon Islands, is also seeking constitutional recognition of Fiji’s Melanesian descendants and other historically marginalised communities.
He says their contributions should be acknowledged through stronger protection for cultural and linguistic identities, fair access to education, housing, employment and essential services, and participation in national policy decisions.
Nunu is also urging the Government to explain significant departures from the Constitution Review Commission’s recommendations.
Nunu says any referendum must be lawful, transparent and independently administered, with enough time for citizens to understand and assess the proposed changes.
We Unite Fiji Party proposed candidate Sandeep Singh says reinstating the Senate with a total of 78 legislators would place an unnecessary financial burden on taxpayers through salaries, allowances, staffing and administration.
He says Fiji should retain a single elected chamber and strengthen scrutiny through parliamentary committees, independent expertise and meaningful public consultation.
Singh says the Great Council of Chiefs should focus on cultural leadership, community welfare and national development, independent of party politics.
He is also encouraging minority communities to establish representative councils, with these bodies and the Great Council of Chiefs serving as independent advisers to the Government.
Singh also says the Constitution should acknowledge God and recognise Christianity’s historical contribution alongside those of other faiths, while protecting equal citizenship and freedom of conscience.
He proposes replacing the reference to “Christianity and family values” with “religion and family values”, or a list of shared principles including truthfulness, compassion, justice, integrity, service and respect for human dignity.
Singh also wants an explicit provision stating that Fiji has no official religion and that religious belief must not be a requirement for citizenship, public office or public service.
He also calls for Hindi to be specifically recognised in the Constitution’s language provisions, alongside the protections proposed for iTaukei and Rotuman.
Singh also proposes a legal framework allowing the Government to address idle land, including freehold land, to support national development.
He says large areas should not remain unused indefinitely while communities need land for productive purposes.
Public consultations on the Constitution Amendment Bill continues in Nadi and Lautoka tomorrow.
