Opposition Member of Parliament Premila Kumar has criticised the Government for giving Fijians just 11 days to make written submissions on the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026, describing the timeframe as inadequate and unacceptable.
Ms Kumar said the submission period, which opened on October 12 and closes tomorrow, October 23, did not allow sufficient time for meaningful public scrutiny of proposed constitutional changes.
“This is not enough time for meaningful public scrutiny of a Bill that could shape Fiji’s future for generations,” she said.
She said any proposal to amend the Constitution, as the supreme law of the country, required careful examination, broad public participation and adequate time for people to understand its implications.
“How can the Government claim to value public consultation when people are given barely 11 days to study a Bill of such significance, assess its implications and prepare informed submissions?” she questioned.
Ms Kumar warned that the limited timeframe could undermine public participation, particularly for people who needed more time to study the proposed changes and prepare submissions.
“Consultation must be more than a box-ticking exercise,” she said.
“People cannot participate meaningfully if the process does not give them a reasonable opportunity to understand the proposals and express their views.”
She also raised concerns that consultation meetings scheduled only in cities and towns could exclude people living in other areas.
Ms Kumar called on the Government to extend the deadline for written submissions and organise additional public consultations to ensure wider participation.
“The public should not be expected to rush through constitutional changes simply because the Government has set a tight timetable,” she said.
She stressed that constitutional reform should not be driven by political deadlines at the expense of meaningful public engagement.
“The Constitution belongs to the people of Fiji, not the Government of the day,” Ms Kumar said.
“The people must be given adequate time and a genuine opportunity to have their voices heard before decisions are made that will determine the nation’s future.”
