The proposed Constitution is not racist, and anyone who believes it is, should identify the specific provisions, with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Industries, Commerce, Business Development, and Public Enterprises Manoa Kamikamica challenging critics to show him what is racist in the document, saying he is happy to raise any genuine concerns with the committee.
Kamikamica says the proposed Constitution is one of the fairest documents ever tabled, as it attempts to address the concerns of everyone in Fiji and bring people together.
He says Fiji has had several versions of its Constitution, and people have known for a long time what needs to change.
Kamikamica says the Constitution Review Commission consulted the public and produced its recommendations, after which the Government made its contributions before the document was tabled in Parliament.
He says the 2013 Constitution was imposed on the people of Fiji, and over the past 12 years, people have developed different views on what needs to be changed.
Kamikamica says the proposed amendments aim to address those concerns while maintaining important provisions, including national identity, equal citizenship, the Bill of Rights and issues relating to land.
He says the 2013 Constitution did not recognise chiefs and removed some of the mechanisms provided under the 1997 Constitution for iTaukei voices to be heard.
He says the proposed amendments seek to restore those mechanisms and recognition of chiefs while retaining key provisions introduced under the 2013 Constitution.
Kamikamica also points out that the role of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga in selecting the President and Vice-President was included in the 1997 Constitution.
He says this is not something new being introduced, noting that the 1997 Constitution was regarded as the best Constitution Fiji had ever had.
He acknowledges that concerns remain over immunity provisions, representation in the Senate, the role of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga in selecting the President, and the number of representatives.
However, he says these are the main issues being raised, rather than hundreds of different concerns.
On concerns about references to Christianity, Kamikamica says the proposed Constitution does not compel anyone to worship Christianity.
He says religious liberty is protected under the legislation, and the Bill of Rights makes it clear that every community in Fiji must be respected.
Kamikamica says the proposed Constitution is balanced and attempts to unify the people of Fiji.
He urges members of the public to read the document, saying it would take about half a day to go through it.
He says he is confident there is nothing racist in the proposed Constitution and challenges anyone who believes otherwise to identify the specific provisions so he can respond to their concerns.
The final parliamentary vote on the Constitution Amendment Bill will take place on November 2nd, and if it is supported by 66 percent of the Members of Parliament then Fiji will have a national referendum on December 9th.
This is where the registered voters around the country will go to the polls and have the final say on whether they are for or against the Constitution.
The new Constitution will only come into place if majority of the people who vote in the referendum support the document.
