The National Federation Party wants the removal of Christianity as a founding constitutional value of the State in Clause 1 of the Constitution Amendment Bill, while permitting appropriate historical recognition of Christianity and other faiths in the Preamble.
The Party’s Management Board during its special meeting today discussed the Constitution Amendment Bill, identifying its shortcomings and proposed changes that the Party believes are necessary.
NFP President, Parmod Chand says the party wants preservation of the common national identity of all citizens as Fijians, with equal political rights and constitutional protection for the identities, cultures and traditions of all communities.
They want absolute protection of iTaukei, Rotuman, Banaban and freehold land ownership, together with enforceable security of tenure for agricultural and residential tenants, including sublessees.
NFP wants a 56-member House elected through Mixed Member Proportional Representation, comprising 28 constituency members and 28 proportional representation members, with separate constituency and party votes.
They also want genuine representative Senate reflecting Fiji's diverse communities, without a majority of seats being controlled by the Bose Levu Vakaturaga.
NFP stressed removal of the provision permitting the lawful and moderate chastisement of children and complete removal of constitutional immunity provisions protecting those responsible for unconstitutional political upheavals and related conduct.
They want the removal of constitutional restrictions preventing citizens from seeking judicial remedies for unlawful or arbitrary actions of the State, depoliticisation of the Constitutional Offices Commission and the appointment of independent constitutional officeholders, enforceable constitutional provisions establishing the Ombudsman and requiring legislation on the Code of Conduct, accountability, transparency and freedom of information.
NFP wants strengthening of the Bill of Rights and removing excessive restrictions on freedom of expression, association, assembly, political participation and equality before the law, removal of any discretionary power of the President to determine when the Constitution comes into force, unambiguous constitutional subordination of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to elected civilian authority, with no independent military mandate to intervene in government.
NFP wants an independent Constituency Boundaries Commission, fair electoral laws, transparent electoral administration and protection against political manipulation of elections, abolition of FICAC in its present form and the establishment of independent, accountable and effective arrangements for investigating and prosecuting corruption.
They want stronger constitutional safeguards against environmental degradation, protection of natural resources and provision for animal welfare, a fair, democratic and accessible constitutional amendment process, without permanent immunity provisions or disproportionate veto powers vested in any single institution and adequate time for public consultation, translation of the proposed Constitution into the vernacular languages, independent scrutiny and comprehensive parliamentary deliberation before its final passage.
The Party says these are principles upon which the NFP has stood for more than six decades.
NFP says it's support for the Constitution Amendment Bill and continued participation in the Special Parliamentary Committee on the Constitution is conditional and dependent on the extension of the timeline for public consultation until mid-December.
They say it will also depend on changes that the Party has identified and the principles that the NFP wants in the Constitution Amendment Bill are significantly important.
NFP is represented in Parliament’s Special Committee to review the Constitution Bill by its leader, Professor Biman Prasad.
NFP's President says the Government’s current timetable is for the Constitution Amendment Bill to return to Parliament in the first week of November and the Party is seriously concerned that of the 19 days, consultation is only for 13 days, 2 days is for Report writing and one day is to finalise the Report.
The Prime Minister indicated on Monday that he is prepared to look at a longer consultation and deliberation process, perhaps up to the end of the Parliament in late December.
Chand says NFP has consistently called for the replacement of the undemocratic 2013 Constitution, but replacing one Constitution with another cannot become another exercise in imposing constitutional arrangements upon the people without their informed consent.
He says Constitution's legitimacy must come from the people, not the political convenience of those in power.
