Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has called on the Citizen’s Constitution Forum to withdraw its booklet on the 2013 constitution, as he said some of the contents of the booklet is misleading and incorrect.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the government will write to CCF to withdraw the booklet.
The Attorney General said the CCF is taking around this booklet throughout Fiji at the grassroots level and it may even be translated into the vernacular language.
One of the issues raised is the section relating to the compulsory acquisition of land.
Sayed-Khaiyum questions why the new section is not included where the land taken through compulsory acquisition will be returned to the landowners if it is no longer required.
He said there are a lot of factual inaccuracies in the booklet and there are deliberate omissions and additions.
The Attorney General said other inaccurate details in the booklet include the information that a cabinet is a body of advisors to the President.
Sayed-Khaiyum said everyone knows that the cabinet consists of the Prime Minister and the number of ministers is determined by the Prime Minister.
He said the booklet also said that there is no limitation to the number of ministers the Prime Minister can appoint.
Sayed-Khaiyum said there has been no limitation set for cabinet in the past.
He said in 2006, Fiji had 36 ministers in the so called multi party cabinet.
The Attorney General said the booklet also said that the 1997 constitution was abrogated in 2006.
He said everyone knows that the 1997 constitution was abrogated in 2009.
Stay with us as we will speak to the CCF later today.
Story by: Vijay Narayan & Watisoni Butabua
