Opposition MP says Government Whip has got it wrong

Opposition MP Viliame Gavoka says Government Whip Semi Koroilavesau has got it wrong when he says the mandate his party got in 2014 means they can change the national flag.

Gavoka says by convention the Government has the right to make decisions in its operation of government business during its term in office.

He says there was no provision for a flag change in the FijiFirst manifesto.

Gavoka also questions how much has been spent so far to produce the 23 proposed flag designs.

The SODELPA parliamentarian says the Prime Minister should stop the process now.

Gavoka says the government should let the parliamentarians work together to propose a referendum and take the question to the people.

He also says the decision should be postponed until the 2018 elections and could become a second item for the people to vote on besides their choice of a new government.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will make the decision on whether the feedback submission period for the new Fiji Flag will be extended.

The feedback period ends today.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says it is clear that more people are now giving their view on this important issue and many responses have been received.

Sayed-Khaiyum says he cannot confirm at this stage on whether the feedback period will be extended.

People can make their comments through text message, e‑mail, post social media and the website newfijiflag.com

The results from the public feedback will be submitted to cabinet for consideration.

Cabinet will then submit them to parliament.

The vote on the new national flag will then be taken in parliament.

It has already been announced that the whole process has been designed so that the new flag will be ready to be hoisted on the 45th anniversary of Fiji’s Independence on October 10th, this year.

Bainimarama says he knows that public reaction to the 23 designs that have been put out has not been entirely positive.

He says they also know that many Fijians do not object to the flag to being changed but want a design they like.

The Prime Minister says a lot of Fijians are now, only after the designs have been put out, getting engaged and suggesting new ideas.

He welcomes this debate about the designs, the criticism of designs as well as the positive responses that have come in.