Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama stressed that Fiji's new constitution should promote equality for all and not have special sections that may create divisions.
While some women's NGOs have called for special provisions for women including reserved positions for party candidates, Commodore Bainimarama said the constitution promotes common and equal citizenry.
The Prime Minister said the Ghai draft had special provisions but they have been taken out.
However Fiji Women's Forum spokesperson, Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls said they still want the specific provisions for women.
Rolls have also raised concerns on the announcement that there will be no constituent assembly.
She said the assembly was a critical component in the constitution making process and they had nominated 13 women leaders to be part of the assembly.
She added that nine working days which has been given to people to submit their comments on the draft constitution is a very short span of time as the submission process took a lot of time, effort and resources.
Commodore Bainimarama has already said that people can make their submissions in various ways and there is sufficient time for them to give their views by April 5th.
He confirmed that the new constitution will be in place on April 12th.
Story by: Vijay Narayan and Kushboo Singh
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Fiji’s new constitution should promote equality for all-PM
