An NGO has called on politicians and government leaders to prioritise the need and plight of Fijians.
Social Empowerment and Education Program executive director Chantelle Khan made the comment in response to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s statement that revising the Mining Act 1965 was not an overnight job.
Mr Rabuka made the statement at a recent Fijian Media Association town hall meeting held in the West, responding to calls from Vatukoula residents wanting changes to the legislation.
On this issue, Ms Khan said that it may not be an overnight job, but something needed to happen to make the change.
“We work on it together with all the different political parties, so the next government that gets into power also owns the process and wants to continue instead of shelving it because they were not part of the discussion,” she said.
“All governments and political parties and everyone engaged with any law reform needs to come at it from a human rights-based approach.
“When it comes to the Mining Act, this thing called BHR (business and human rights guiding principles.) becomes very important. There are three pillars to this, but the crux of it is that their guiding principles internationally that Fiji, having signed up to conventions, needs to align which means that international law is there.”
Such laws — like the review of the Mining Act 1965 — Ms Khan said, required governments to ensure that as duty bearer, it would make careful consideration about the views, opinions and impact of all its decisions on developments on local communities.
