Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry says the Government has not honoured and respected the imposed 2013 Constitution.
Chaudhry says the Government has failed to honour some of the key elements of the Constitution in the past six years, specifically the requirement to enact provisions pertaining to good governance and the ability of the people to hold the Government accountable.
He says these include a Code of Conduct for Government Ministers, MPs and holders of high office, the Freedom of Information Act and the establishment of an Accountability and Transparency Commission.
Chaudhry claims absence of these instruments to provide checks and balances in the governance of our nation has led to abuse of public funds, abuse of office and maladministration.
The Fiji Labour Party Leader further adds most of the major problems facing Fiji today can find their roots in the absence of accountability and transparency in governance, an exploding national debt, Government’s unstable financial position and economic stagnation.
He says there is nothing to celebrate about the constitution as it has been criticised as undemocratic and specifically tailored to consolidate the Bainimarama Government’s hold on power.
The Labour Leader adds the Constitution does not observe the doctrine of separation of powers between the executive, legislature and the judiciary and the imposed constitution concentrates wide powers in the hands of the Prime Minister and the Attorney General.
He goes on to say that free, fair and credible elections cannot be held under this Constitution because the Electoral Commission and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections are seen to be beholden to the Attorney General who is the Minister of Elections and the General Secretary for the ruling FijiFirst.
We have contacted the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and the Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister, Yogesh Karan for a response.
Karan has referred all questions to the Prime Minister.
Sayed-Khaiyum is not answering our calls.
