Errors in Fiji’s proposed Constitution could weaken democratic institutions, undermine people’s rights and create legal disputes for decades, the Civil Society Alliance for Democracy (CSAD) has warned.
The alliance has called on the Government to abandon its rushed constitutional amendment timetable and defer the third reading of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill scheduled for November 2.
In a statement, CSAD said concerns about the draft included internal inconsistencies, defective cross-references, unclear transitional arrangements and provisions that could have serious consequences for democratic accountability.
“Errors in a constitution can distort institutions, weaken rights and generate disputes for decades,” the alliance warned.
It said provisions dealing with executive power, independent appointments, electoral design, constituency boundaries, immunity, children’s rights and commencement required independent legal and technical scrutiny.
“These issues cannot responsibly be resolved through hurried hearings followed by a rushed committee report.”
CSAD is demanding at least six months of meaningful public consultation, including reopening written submissions and allowing adequate time for oral presentations.
It also wants the complete constitutional draft and explanatory materials published in English, iTaukei and Hindi, together with a comparison showing how the Government’s proposals differ from the Constitution Review Commission’s recommendations.
The alliance has called for an independent legal and technical review of the entire document, with its findings and proposed corrections made public.
It also wants the Government to publish a detailed response to public submissions, explaining which recommendations have been accepted or rejected and why.
CSAD said the general election must proceed within the existing constitutional timetable, with constitutional reform continuing lawfully across the election period.
It proposed April or May 2027 as the earliest period for further parliamentary consideration, provided meaningful consultation and scrutiny had been completed.
“The present approach makes a mockery of the promise of a people-centred constitutional review,” the alliance said.
“The Government must abandon the rush and allow every provision to receive the scrutiny its consequences demand.”
CSAD maintained that constitutional reform should not be driven by political deadlines.
“The Constitution belongs to the people of Fiji, and their right to shape it must take precedence over the Government’s timetable.”
Members of CSAD are the Centre for Democracy & Dialogue (CDD), Fiji Council of Social Services, Transparency & Integrity Fiji, Social Empowerment Education Programme (SEEP), ILGA Oceania, femLINKpacific, Conciliation Resources, Fiji Council of Churches, School Management Association of Fiji, Shree Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, United Nations Association of Fiji and Interfaith Search Fiji.
