Electoral reform is not about political expediency or institutional convenience, it is about ensuring that the voices of all Fijians are heard, respected, and reflected in the systems that govern us.
Permanent Secretary for Justice Selina Kuruleca highlighted this at the Dialogue Fiji Multi Stakeholder Dialogue on Electoral Reform currently underway at the Holiday Inn, saying this dialogue affirms our collective commitment to that principle.
Kuruleca says we are here because the Fijian government, through cabinet's endorsement in February 2025, has initiated an inclusive process to review our electoral laws.
The Permanent Secretary says this review is not a routine bureaucratic exercise, it is an invitation to all our people to engage in shaping the rules by which we govern ourselves.
She says Dialogue Fiji's initiative is a critical platform in this process, ensuring that the voices shaping electoral reform reflect the diversity of our nation.
The Permanent Secretary adds electoral law can be deceptively technical as minor change can have a sweeping impact.
She says that's why this multi-stakeholder dialogue matters by bringing together political actors, electoral institutions, civil society organisations, academia, media, and international experts.
She says we are investing in a process that is both technically sound and deeply participatory.
Kuruleca says she wants to reflect on the statements recently made about the cart being before the horse.
She says perhaps we need to rephrase that, we know that there is a cart, we also know that there is a horse but let's ensure that each is fit for purpose first, before we put the horse before the cart.
