THE Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) has declined to comment on submissions made to the Constitution Review Commission, including proposals by the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) for major reforms to the Office of the President.
This newspaper had sought the council’s views following the FTUC’s submission, which called for a nationally elected President with real powers and accountability, arguing the current system weakens the role and limits its independence.
FTUC president Felix Anthony told the committee the process lacks genuine scrutiny, claiming the government’s nominee is almost certain to succeed.
“What we’re saying is that the President must be independent, and also that in his own right, he has the right to either sign off a piece of legislation or refuse to sign.”
He proposed that the President be elected directly by the voters to ensure legitimacy and independence from political influence.
However, GCC chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula said the council would not be drawn into commenting on such submissions.
“We will not be making any comment with regards to submissions going to the Constitution Review Commission,” he said.
Ratu Viliame stressed that the council respects the views of all individuals and organisations participating in the review process.
“People and organisations that are submitting after us, whatever their submissions, we respect it.
“We will not provide counter comments, because that is what the Constitution Review Commission has been set up for to allow for dialogues and public consultation.”
He said responding to individual submissions would undermine the purpose of the commission.
“It is not our duty to be co-commenting on what an organisation said yesterday or presented after us.”
The GCC maintains that the commission remains the appropriate platform where all views are considered as part of the ongoing constitutional review process.
