Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Manoa Kamikamica has clarified that his text messages to the Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu were authorised by the Prime Minister.
Kamikamica made this statement after Seruiratu revealed that he had received text messages from him, offering to maintain the national referendum on the Constitutional Amendment while proposing to lower the 75 percent threshold.
Kamikamica stresses that the messages were a genuine attempt to continue discussions on the Constitution and find common ground.
He says Seruiratu’s outbursts reflect weak leadership and that he remains beholden to his two leaders who ran away from Parliament.
Kamikamica’s advice to the Leader of the Opposition is to grow a spine and think for himself because the old playbook of refusing to change the Constitution is over.
Kamikamica says Seruiratu didn’t see the text as an opportunity for discussion and called it a part of the 16-year dictatorship playbook.
The Deputy Prime Minister says if the Leader of the shrinking Opposition understood the Constitution and the standing orders, they would have at least spoken to them regarding the last minute offer.
He says they did the same when the former Prime Minister was being sanctioned before he ran away from Parliament.
Kamikamica further says according to the Standing Orders and the Constitution, there is a 30-day period between the 2nd and 3rd reading and the standing orders direct that a Committee of Parliament be formed to consult with the People of Fiji.
He says if the Opposition then wanted to reject the Bill after the consultation, they could have done it after the 3rd reading and is wondering whether they are scared to face the people of Fiji.
Kamikamica further says the government is now planning to take the matter to the Supreme Court under Section 91(5) of the Constitution to amend it.
His message to Seruiratu is "They have failed the people of Fiji. They had an opportunity to rise above politics and seek common ground, that was the purpose of my text."
He adds that if the Supreme Court rules to revert to the 1997 Constitution, he would have little say in the matter.
Meanwhile, Seruiratu earlier said that the Opposition has been coming in good faith for dialogue but the government has been evading it.
