In 1992 Sitiveni Rabuka became Prime Minister under the 1990 Constitution.
Twenty-five years ago on this day, The Fiji Times published an article titled “PM defends Constitution”. In the article, Mr Rabuka says “while parts of the Constitution were not perfect, it had given Fiji an elected and an accountable government”.
The article also highlighted discussions between Mr Rabuka, the Indo-Fijian dominated Fiji Labour Party (FLP) and other political parties in Parliament that the parities had begun dialogue on the question of a review of the Constitution.
In 1995, Mr Rabuka established the Constitutional Reviewed Commission. The review process resulted in Fiji’s third constitution, the 1997 Constitution.
The constitution pursued to balance ethnic representation in Fiji’s government. It led to the election of Fiji’s Fijian Prime Minster of Indian descent, Mahendra Chaudhry, in 1999.
However, Fiji experienced another coup led by George Speight. Rebels took control of Parliament on May 19, 2000 holding Mr Chaudhry, other ministers, and staff hostage.
In 2000, the military led by Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama assumed control and revoked the Constitution.
The 2000, Laisenia Qarase was appointed prime minister. The Supreme Court declared Qarase’s Government unconstitutional in 2003.
On December 6, 2006 Bainimarama announced that the military had officially taken over Government.
In July 2009, Mr Bainimarama set plans for a new constitution by 2013, ahead of the election in 2014.
Three years later, Mr Bainimarama announced the lifting of military law and said consultations on a new constitution would be in place in February.
By the end of 2012, the Constitution Commission produced a draft constitution intended to make way for the return to democracy with free election in 2014.
A month later, the Government rejected the Constitution Commission’s draft and on March 2013, the Government released the 2013 Constitution draft for public comment.
Six months later, then President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, approved the 2013 Constitution.