Charter council advises that commission will speed up new constitution

The National Peoples Charter Advisory Council has impressed upon the government that the processes of preparing a new constitution must be fast-tracked through the establishment of a Constitution Commission and appointment of its membership with a Terms of Reference.

Chairman of the Council, Josefa Serulagilagi said they are satisfied with the work of the whole machinery of the government in embracing the 11 pillars of the Peoples Charter, and the manner in which the work is being implemented and monitored.

Following the presentation of the council’s 2009 and 2010 report to the Prime Minister, Serulagilagi said the council is convinced that the reforms emanating from the implementation of the charter are progressing well and are very much on target.

He said the council is totally committed to ensuring that all processes are implemented in a timely and coordinated manner for Fiji to go to the polls in 2014.

Serulagilagi said it is important for the whole of Fiji and the international community to get behind the 2014 timeline and make it happen.

He reaffirmed that the council has accordingly encouraged the government to fast-track the aspects such as the preparation of a new constitution which will require time, resources and wide ranging consultations, for Fiji to be well on schedule for democratic elections in 2014.


Story by: Vijay Narayan