The Great Council of Chiefs has made a number of recommendations in its submission to amend the 2013 Constitution which includes that the GCC is to be the appointing authority of the President and the Vice President, the 'Fijian' name to be reserved for the iTaukei, the section for Fiji to be a secular State to be repealed, and the words ‘gender’ and ‘sexual orientation’ are to be deleted from this expression in Section 26(3) on the Right to equality and freedom from discrimination
The Constitution Review Commission confirms that the GCC also wants Section 41 on the Rights of children - protection from punishment to be amended and to include at the discretion of parents and teachers.
The GCC's proposed Constitution amendments to the Commission include that the Deed of Cession is to be included or imported into the new Constitution either in the Preamble or a separate section, and customary laws and rights are to be included again in the new constitution.
The Constitution Review Commission also confirms that it posed a few questions to the GCC on certain issues that were not raised in their verbal submission.
The Great Council of Chiefs' response included the use of the generic term 'Fijian' used by all races.
The Commission says the GCC strongly believes that the term 'Fijian' should be reserved for the iTaukei people only and not what is defined in the current constitution.
The GCC also says the GCC needs to be included in the new constitution as the creation of the council came about from the Deed, and it is imperative that Fiji acknowledges their beginning and history.
They also propose for the electoral system to be changed as it disempowers the provinces in voting.
The GCC says the current system is designed in a way that those elected are not answerable to the people, and it does not respect democracy.
They also propose that the Senate be reintroduced.
The GCC says there is wisdom in that group and it represents all races.
Although the Supreme Court has advised that the immunity clause should not be amended in the 2013 Constitution, the GCC has proposed for the immunity clause to be removed.
