Lawyer and Fiscal Review Committee chairman Richard Naidu says Fiji’s Constitution belongs to the people, not politicians who come and go, and constitutional reform must reflect the views of ordinary citizens.
In a social media post, Mr Naidu stressed that constitutional reform should not be driven simply by a government’s ability to secure the required parliamentary majority.
“Even more importantly, you must engage with the people. The Constitution belongs to them, not the politicians, who come and go,” he said.
Mr Naidu questioned the pace of the ongoing constitutional review process, arguing that Fijians needed adequate time to read, discuss and understand the proposed changes before being expected to reach agreement.
“How are we supposed to all rush to agreement on a Constitution we haven’t even had the chance to read, discuss amongst ourselves, and understand?”
He said constitution-building required more than securing sufficient votes in Parliament.
“Constitution-building is not a political exercise because ‘you have the numbers’,” he said.
“It is process by which you actively engage with your opponents to reach agreement. You will not always get there but you must make the attempt.”
Mr Naidu emphasised that political leaders had a responsibility to engage with those holding opposing views and make genuine efforts to reach agreement.
His comments come amid public consultations on the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026, with concerns raised by several individuals and organisations about the time available for public participation.
The proposed constitutional amendments are being examined by a Special Parliamentary Committee before the Bill returns to Parliament for further consideration.
