Serious concerns are being raised over the Government’s decision to task the Constitutional Review Commission with completing its work within just five months, with Dialogue Fiji warning the timeframe is unrealistic for meaningful reform.
Executive Director Nilesh Lal said the compressed timeline, combined with a lack of clear Terms of Reference or enabling legislation, risks undermining the credibility of the entire process.
“A comprehensive constitutional review cannot be properly undertaken in five months,” Lal said.
“In Fiji’s own experience, the Reeves Commission took two years, and the Ghai Commission took around one year. Internationally, 18 to 24 months is considered a realistic timeframe for comprehensive constitutional reform.”
Mr Lal pointed to global examples to reinforce his concerns, noting that South Africa’s constitution-making process took two years, Tunisia’s lasted about two and a half years, and Kenya’s reform process spanned roughly 19 months.
“These examples highlight the time and structure required to deliver credible and legitimate constitutional outcomes,” he said.
Dialogue Fiji also highlighted structural weaknesses in the process, including the apparent absence of a clear legal framework guiding the Commission’s work.
Mr Lal described the task given to the Commission as “unenviable,” warning that the limited timeframe places significant constraints on its ability to conduct thorough consultations and analysis.
“We want to support the CRC in its work,” he said. “But there are serious concerns about the process as it currently stands.”
He cautioned that rushing the review could fail to address longstanding concerns about democratic legitimacy.
“Unless these issues are addressed, this review will not cure the much-criticised democratic deficit. It risks repeating the very problems it seeks to fix,” Lal added.
Dialogue Fiji acknowledged that elements of the current constitutional framework may benefit from review, but stressed that any reform must be transparent, inclusive and properly structured to deliver lasting and credible outcomes.
