Questions were raised during Dialogue Fiji’s Constitution review discussion on whether the government can delay the general elections and complete the Constitution review however Acting Attorney General Siromi Turaga says the government is committed to holding the elections.
Investment Consultant Sandeep Singh says they do not want the government to go out and start promoting and campaigning for Constitution reform in the next elections.
He says if we are serious about the Constitution review, we must put our hands down and delay the elections.
Singh says we must come up with the appropriate Constitution before going for elections.
Aca Rayawa of Rayawa Law questioned the panellists on whether we can delay the elections or not because the setting up of the Constitutional Assembly requires time.
He says the Prime Minister will announce the members of the Constitution Review Commission next year.
Dialogue Fiji Executive Director Nilesh Lal says we cannot delay elections and if it happens, that is going to create a constitutional crisis.
He says a constitutional review process does not really need to be tied to a government's tenure and the process can start and go on for two years.
Lal says some recommendations have been made for the process to be free from political pressure.
He adds that the Constitutional Review Commission needs to be adequately empowered by the law.
