The National Federation Party (NFP) has outlined 18 key constitutional principles it wants incorporated into the Constitution (Amendment) Bill as conditions for its support.
Party president Parmod Chand said the 18 points were endorsed by the party’s Management Board and would form the basis of its position during deliberations by Parliament’s Special Committee.
Among the major demands are the removal of Christianity as a founding constitutional value, abolition of immunity provisions, changes to the composition of Parliament, stronger land ownership and tenancy protections, and the abolition of FICAC in its present form.
The party is also demanding a 56-member House of Representatives, comprising 28 constituency members and 28 proportional representation members elected through a Mixed Member Proportional system.
It wants a Senate that reflects Fiji’s diverse communities, without the Bose Levu Vakaturaga controlling a majority of seats.
On land ownership, the NFP is seeking absolute constitutional protection for iTaukei, Rotuman, Banaban and freehold land, alongside enforceable security of tenure for agricultural and residential tenants, including sublessees.
The party also wants the removal of provisions permitting the lawful and moderate chastisement of children, stronger fundamental rights protections and greater access to justice for citizens challenging unlawful or arbitrary State actions.
Other proposals include depoliticising the Constitutional Offices Commission, establishing independent constitutional officeholders and strengthening accountability through an Ombudsman, a Code of Conduct and freedom of information legislation.
The NFP is also calling for civilian supremacy over the military, an independent Constituency Boundaries Commission, stronger environmental safeguards and constitutional recognition of the common national identity of all citizens as Fijians.
It wants the President’s discretionary power to determine when the Constitution comes into force removed, alongside changes to the constitutional amendment process to prevent disproportionate veto powers being vested in any single institution.
The party’s final demand is for meaningful public consultation, including translation of the proposed Constitution into vernacular languages, independent scrutiny and comprehensive parliamentary deliberation.
Mr Chand said these principles had underpinned the NFP’s position for more than six decades.
“They are not demands for political advantage. They are safeguards for the rights, dignity and democratic future of every Fijian,” he said.
He confirmed that party leader Professor Biman Prasad would continue representing the NFP on Parliament’s Special Committee.
“We believe in dialogue and consensus, not walkouts or political theatrics. But participation in the process must never be mistaken for unconditional support for its outcome.”
Mr Chand warned against rushing constitutional reforms to meet political deadlines.
“The NFP will not sacrifice the quality and legitimacy of our next Constitution to meet an arbitrary political deadline,” he said.
“The 2013 Constitution was imposed upon the people. We must not repeat that mistake in the name of replacing it.”
He said the Constitution must ultimately reflect the informed consent of Fiji’s people and protect their rights beyond the tenure of the country’s current political leaders.
