Rakiraki farmer calls for up to one year of public consultations on Constitution Bill

Rakiraki farmer calls for up to one year of public consultations on Constitution Bill
[Image: Fiji Government]
Rakiraki farmer Hazrat Ali is calling for public consultations on the Constitution Amendment Bill, to be extended by six months to one year to give more Fijians, particularly those living in rural, informal and maritime communities, an opportunity to have their say.

While making his submission to the Joint Parliamentary Special Committee at Rakiraki Hall, Ali says every Fijian should be given enough time to understand the proposed constitutional changes and contribute to the process.

He believes rushing the consultations could repeat mistakes of the past and affect public confidence in the constitutional review process.

Ali, who is a sugarcane and cassava farmer, also raised concerns about a change in the scheduled time for the consultation in Rakiraki.

He says residents were initially informed that the consultation would begin at 6pm, but the time was later changed to 10am.

Ali believes this may have contributed to the low turnout, as some residents may have relied on the original schedule.

He says some communities in Rakiraki have limited or no mobile network coverage, making it difficult for residents to receive updates shared only on Facebook.

Ali says important government announcements should also be communicated through the Provincial Administrator's Office and advisory councillors to ensure information reaches people in rural communities.

He stresses that the Constitution is the supreme law of the country and that all Fijians should have a fair opportunity to contribute to any proposed changes.

Ali also believes the findings of the Constitution Review Commission should be respected and reflected in the proposed amendments.

On other issues raised in his submission, Ali is calling for Fiji to remain a secular State and has proposed replacing references to Christianity in the proposed amendments, with references to religion and family values to protect the rights of people from different religious backgrounds.

He has also raised concerns about the proposed provision relating to the chastisement of children, saying parents should take greater responsibility for teaching their children discipline and respect.

Ali is also calling for stronger constitutional protection of freehold land, saying landowners need assurance that their property rights will remain protected in the future.

He says freehold land ownership is particularly important for minority communities.

Ali has urged the Committee to carefully consider public submissions and ensure that the final constitutional amendments reflect the views of all Fijians.

Meanwhile, consultation will be held at Rakiraki Village Hall in Navutulevu from 4pm to 6pm today.

Tomorrow, consultations will be held at Wailotua Village Hall in Wainibuka from 10am to midday and at Korovou Primary School Hall from 3pm to 5pm.

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