Parliament should be made up of politicians who receive the highest votes and not by those who ride on the coattails of their party leader.
This was the consensus of speakers during a public lecture on the life and legacy of the late statesman, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, organised at the University of Fiji’s Samabula Campus on Thursday.
The speakers included Jioji Kotobalavu, Dr Cema Bolabola, Justice Alipate Qetaki, Savenaca Narube and Pandit Bhuwan Dutt.
Mr Kotobalavu, who lectures in public law, international relations and diplomacy at the University of Fiji – and a former permanent secretary – said while the system of electing the peoples’ representatives under the 2013 Constitution appeared to be the best, “the reality was far different”.
At first glance, he said there was no allocation of seats based on ethnicity, as each vote was given equal value.
“In reality, however, as we have seen from the results of three general elections held under the 2013 Constitution, Fiji’s minority communities of Rotumans, Europeans, Part-Europeans and Chinese today have no representatives in Parliament,” he said.
“If the present system of electing the peoples’ representatives in Parliament under the 2013 Constitution is maintained, the iTaukei’s dominance in Parliament and Government will be further entrenched.
“Is this good for our country? Will the minority communities still have confidence about their security and future if they have no direct voice in Parliament and Cabinet?”
Additionally, Mr Kotobalavu said the system of elections under the 2013 Constitution had to be changed if representation of all communities was to be enhanced.
“The single multi-member nation-wide constituency has to be replaced by single-member constituencies.
“This will also obviate the need for the five per cent vote threshold for eligibility for an allocation of seats. This will be fairer to independents and small parties.
“General elections will no longer be a popularity contest among the leaders of the competing parties.
“Members of Parliament will win their seats only through the votes they receive, and no longer with the help of votes amassed by their party leader.
“And most importantly, people will know who their representatives are.”
His sentiments were echoed by Dr Bolabola, who said people should not be elected to Parliament because of “somebody carrying everyone across to Parliament”.
“We have people with 700 votes becoming ministers and those with 2000 votes are relegated to Opposition or either, outside Parliament,” she said.
“I am a supporter of more healthy parties and to have more representation, we must develop more healthy parties who are actually inclusive, and they embrace all voters rather than on their ethnicity.
“I think people have started voting for people who can champion their issues rather than ethnicity.”
