Fiji could have a new Constitution in force by December 24 this year if proposed constitutional changes clear Parliament, a referendum and the other required processes.
Cabinet has endorsed the tabling of the Constitution Review Commission’s Report in Parliament and supported a request for a special sitting on September 22.
A Fiji Government statement states, under the proposed timeline, the Commission’s Report would be debated during the parliamentary sitting beginning September 28, followed by further parliamentary processes.
Subject to the passage of the proposed Constitution Bill, a national referendum is expected to be held between November and mid-December.
If the proposed changes receive the approvals required through those processes, the new Constitution is proposed to come into effect by December 24.
The Constitution Review Commission was established in March and conducted consultations around the country before submitting its Report and a Draft Constitution Bill to President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu on August 31. The President publicly received the report at State House and stressed that its submission did not itself amend the Constitution and that further governmental, parliamentary and democratic processes would follow.
The Commission had been tasked with consulting Fijians and examining issues including governance, rights, accountability, the system of government, parliamentary representation and electoral arrangements.
Cabinet stressed that its decision to table the Report does not mean it has accepted or adopted all of the Commission’s recommendations.
The Cabinet Subcommittee on the Review of the Constitution will continue examining the recommendations and their legal, policy and practical implications, including any transitional arrangements that may be necessary.
It will then report back to Cabinet on the way forward.
