The Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) should be abolished and its responsibilities transferred to a parliamentary joint committee, according to former journalist and publisher Josefa Nata.
Speaking before the Constitution Review Commission at Suvavou House, Nata says the commission's functions should instead be carried out by a joint committee of Parliament's two Houses, which can also be empowered to conduct special investigations and recommend prosecutions.
Nata also proposed that Cabinet ministers be appointed from outside Parliament, drawing from professionals, industry leaders and other accomplished individuals rather than elected MPs.
He says appointing people who have already established themselves professionally and financially could help minimise corruption at the highest levels of government.
Nata further recommend that the Constitution place a limit on the size of Cabinet to prevent what he described as "outrageously bloated" governments formed for political expediency.
He also proposed the creation of a Secretary for Nation Building to oversee national reconciliation, ethnic harmony and efforts to unite the country.
During his submission, Nata also welcomed the recent recommendation by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, to remove constitutional immunity provisions.
He says the Commander's position should be given serious consideration, describing it as an important contribution to the national conversation on constitutional immunity.
Nata says immunity provisions should "never ever be entertained" and welcomed the military's support for their removal as a step towards ending what he described as a culture of impunity.
He also suggested that the Supreme Court may have been reluctant to address the immunity provisions because of concerns about antagonising the military and creating further instability, but says the Commander's submission had changed that conversation.
Nata praised Major General Kalouniwai's leadership following the 2022 General Election, saying the nation owed him "a deep debt of gratitude".
He further called for the removal of statutory time limits for the offence of treason, saying there should be no limitation period for prosecuting those accused of attempting to overthrow the State.
