Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka will now table the Constitution Review Commission Report and Draft Constitution Bill in Cabinet for deliberation before it proceeds to Parliament in accordance with the appropriate constitutional and Government processes.
Acting Attorney General, Siromi Turaga says it is important to clarify the process following today’s submission, particularly in light of misinformation and speculation surrounding the report.
Turaga says the submission of the report marks the completion of the Commission’s mandate and does not mean that the recommendations contained in the report or the Draft Constitution had been adopted or approved by the Government.
Turaga says the report represents the independent work of the Constitutional Review Commission following an extensive nationwide consultation process.
He says it must now go through the appropriate Government processes before any further decisions are made.
The Acting Attorney General says the report cannot be released publicly at this stage and will be made available to the public in due course, following Cabinet deliberation and once the appropriate process has been completed.
Turaga acknowledged the commitment and work of the Commissioners and staff members throughout the review process.
He also acknowledged the contribution of constitutional and legislative experts who supported the Commission’s work, including Professor Anthony Regan, Dr Kathrene Le Roy and Fiona Leonard.
Turaga urges the public and all stakeholders to refrain from speculation about the contents of the report or its possible outcomes until it has been properly considered.
