Minister for Information and Joint Special Committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill member Lynda Tabuya says leadership takes patience, judgement and the courage to compromise, and putting political pride ahead of that responsibility is political immaturity.
In a post on her facebook account, while sharing a news article regarding the National Federation Party's stand on the third reading of the Bill in Parliament, Tabuya says leadership requires the maturity to work through disagreements.
She says, in her view, NFP, like SODELPA, has jumped the gun while the parliamentary process is still underway.
She wrote that the Special Committee is bipartisan, bringing together government and opposition members, and that it is still considering public submissions, with room for negotiation, compromise and agreement.
Tabuya asks why parties should draw final battle lines before the committee has completed its work and presented its report to Parliament.She says the purpose of public consultation is to listen and allow peoples views to shape the outcome.
She adds that contentious proposals must be debated, differences worked through and common ground pursued.
The Minister says taking a position is every partys right, but treating that position as the end of the discussion undermines the very process established to resolve these issues.
Tabuya says these premature declarations also put their own MPs in a difficult position and risk deepening public disillusionment, division and distrust.
She says our people expect them to sit at the table, talk through disagreements and find a way forward.
She also says they deserve representatives who can disagree firmly and still work together.
Tabuya adds that the Special Committee is still sitting and its mandate is still in motion, and says it should be allowed to finish its work.
The Minister says principles should guide how they negotiate, but should never become an excuse to stop listening.
She asks if they cannot manage disagreement within a bipartisan process, what confidence can they give the people that they can unite the country?
Meanwhile, NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad says the NFP Management Board, with the endorsement of the party's Working Committee, has directed all NFP Members of Parliament to vote against the Constitution Bill in its third reading.
Professor Prasad says he has written to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, advising him of their position and urging the People's Alliance Party to withdraw the Bill from Parliament's consideration next Monday, the 2nd of November.
He says he did so out of respect for their coalition partnership, which has often endured difficult circumstances since 2022.
He adds that cooperation in government does not require them to abandon their principles, as demonstrated in May 2024 when they, in compliance with a party directive and their principles, voted against the parliamentary salary increase.
The committee will present it's report to Parliament tomorrow.
There are indications that debate on the Constitution Amendment Bill will take place later in the week before the final vote is taken.
If two thirds of Members of Parliament vote for the Constitution Amendment Bill, then Fiji will go to a national referendum on 9th December where the people of the country who are registered voters, will have the final say on whether the new Constitution should become the supreme law of the land.
