Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said members of the Constituent Assembly will need to demonstrate that they represent a significant constituency in the country to qualify to be part of the assembly.
Commodore Bainimarama who will appoint the members of the assembly to look at the draft constitution has revealed at the Attorney General’s Conference that Fiji cannot allow a narrow band of elite to determine our future.
He said we have already had a handful of men determine what our constitution would be after independence, we have already had the 1990 constitution imposed with almost no consultation at all and we have already had the key recommendations of the Reeves Commission overturned by a Joint Parliamentary Select Committee.
Commodore Bainimarama stresses that this will not happen again.
While speaking about new decrees, the Prime Minister said the Essential National Industries Decree was critical to building an economy that creates opportunity.
He said the unreasonable demands of certain unionists were crippling some industries.
Commodore Bainimarama said since the decree was passed, Air Pacific has been saved from the brink of collapse.
He said the airline is getting new planes, new branding and not a single job has been lost.
The Prime Minister said the employees now get to share in the profits of the company and Fiji Airways will create more jobs next year.
He also highlighted other new laws like the Domestic Violence Decree, Mental Health Decree and the Child Welfare Decree.
Commodore Bainimarama said thanks to the Domestic Violence Decree, women now have greater protection from domestic violence.
He said the law clarifies the responsibilities of the police and allows for restraining orders and other measures to protect women from abusive partners.
The Prime Minister further states that the government is committed to establishing Legal Aid offices throughout the country to provide improved legal services to Fijians who otherwise would not have access to them.
The 14th AG’s conference continues at the Intercontinental Hotel in Natadola.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
