National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad says the proposed constitutional amendment process should extend into next year, rejecting the Government’s plan to hold a referendum on December 9.
Prasad said the NFP opposed what he described as the fast-tracking of the Constitution Amendment Bill, arguing that the draft must first undergo further parliamentary scrutiny and consultation with the public.
He said the bipartisan Special Parliamentary Committee agreed to by Parliament last week should first examine the Bill and engage with citizens before any further parliamentary vote.
“The draft Constitution belongs to the people. It does not belong to the politicians,” Prasad said.
He said NFP supported the Bill at its second reading because it wanted the public to participate in the constitution-making process, but did not support rushing the remaining stages.
According to Prasad, Parliament should take the time to consider submissions, agree on any necessary changes and then return the Bill for its third reading before a referendum is held.
“This will all take longer than 30 days. Only then can the Constitution go back to a third reading and then a referendum. That should happen next year, after the elections,” he said.
Prasad also questioned how voters could make an informed decision on a proposed Constitution if they had limited time to study it, particularly if changes were made during the committee stage.
He said the NFP, along with the People’s Alliance and SODELPA, had rejected the 2013 Constitution because they considered that process rushed, and said similar concerns should not arise with the current review.
“The whole point of a new Constitution is to bring our people together. It is not to divide us further,” Prasad said.
His comments come after Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka announced December 9 as the proposed referendum date, setting up a dispute over the pace and sequencing of the remaining constitutional process.
