The Citizens Constitutional Forum said it will not withdraw it's booklets on the 2013 constitution at this stage as CCF has not received an official complaint from the Attorney General.
CCF Chief Executive, Reverend Akuila Yabaki said they have published 10,000 booklets and only 3,000 copies are left to be distributed to the public.
Although Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has called for the withdrawal of the CCF booklets due to inaccurate information in the document about the constitution, Reverend Yabaki stressed that the booklet is only a summary and people can read the constitution to get the full details.
When asked about specific pieces of information which are in the booklet but not contained in the constitution, Reverend Yabaki said he cannot discuss it at this stage.
Reverend Yabaki said they do not intend to mislead the people and the Attorney General can accompany their teams for the educational exercise.
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.
Sayed-Khaiyum said there are several inaccurate details in the booklet which includes misinformation that the Prime Minister and the Attorney General have control over the Judicial Services Commission.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the CCF booklet is also claiming that people will get broad immunity under the constitution.
He stressed that the constitution is clear that immunity is not provided for various offences under the Crimes Decree.
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.
Another issue raised in the CCF booklet is the section relating to the compulsory acquisition of land which has been in place since the colonial period.
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.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Feature
CCF will not withdraw its booklets at this stage
