Constitution Review Commission hears fresh calls from Wainunu to scrap 2013 Constitution

Constitution Review Commission hears fresh calls from Wainunu to scrap 2013 Constitution

Calls to remove the 2013 Constitution and bring back the 1997 Constitution continue to emerge during Constitutional Review Commission consultations, with concerns raised over how the current Constitution was introduced.

This issue was raised during consultations in Wainunu, where a villager called for the removal of the 2013 Constitution and proposed the return of the 1997 Constitution with some amendments.

The villager claimed that the 2013 Constitution was introduced without proper consultation with the people and questioned the process used at the time.

Responding to the concern, John Fatiaki says similar views have also been raised in a number of other consultation venues across the country.

Fatiaki says the Supreme Court had advised that the 1997 Constitution is no longer valid because the 2013 Constitution has gone through three elections and appeared to have been accepted by the people.

He says while the Constitution cannot simply be removed, there is still room for major changes through the review process.

Fatiaki says every line of the Constitution can be reviewed and amended, adding that even the name of the Constitution could be changed if required.

He says the review process gives people an opportunity to include issues that are not currently protected under the Constitution.

Among the key issues repeatedly raised during consultations are ownership rights relating to qoliqoli areas, minerals, rivers and seabed resources.

Calls to remove the immunity clause have also emerged as a common issue during consultations.

Constitutional Review Commission member Merewalesi Nailatikau says the Supreme Court had advised against changes to the immunity chapter during the current review process to maintain stability.

However, Fatiaki says a future Parliament under a new Constitution could legally amend the immunity provisions if there is agreement to do so.

The Constitutional Review Commission consultations continue around the country as submissions are collected for its final report.

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