Calls have been made by the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions General Secretary, Attar Singh for the government to put its draft constitution to a national referendum.
While raising questions in the consultation session at the Rishikul Sanatan College Hall last night, Singh asked Acting Prime Minister and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum if the document should be put to the test by taking the people's vote.
Sayed-Khaiyum said this could take a lot of time and the government also wants to ensure that it has elections by September 2014.
Attar Singh continued to pursue the question and said that a referendum is needed.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the next parliament can have a national referendum if it wants to.
He also questioned Attar Singh whether he accepted Rabuka's 1990 constitution after the 1987 coup as Singh said that this constitution is being shoved down people's throats.
Still on the Nasinu consultation
Former Commerce Ministry CEO, Sireli Koyamaibole said independent legal opinion should be taken on the transfer of 68.7 hectares of itaukei land to freehold land for the Momi Bay Resort development by the Qarase led cabinet in July 2006.
While Acting Prime Minister and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was explaining about the Native Land Trust Act which states that itaukei land should not be converted to freehold land, Koyamaibole interjected at times and demanded an independent explanation.
He also started reading out the Crown Lands Act.
Sayed-Khaiyum says Koyamaibole should look at the Native Land Trust Act and analyse what is said in it.
While speaking in Nasinu last night, Koyamaibole also called for a specific section to give protection to itaukei land as it comes under group or mataqali rights.
Sayed-Khaiyum said itaukei land is protected in the Bill of Rights where it states that a person must not be unfairly discriminated against, directly or indirectly on the grounds of his or her culture.
He said itaukei land ownership is part of the itaukei culture and this cannot be changed.
He said there is another section dealing with freedom from arbitrary expropriation of any property.
Sayed-Khaiyum said this means all types of land is protected under this section including itaukei land.
Meanwhile the consultation session is at Marata Community Hall in Wailoku at 7pm tonight.
Story by: Vijay Narayan and Dhanjay Deo
