THE public will have to wait until the Constitution Review Commission’s report is tabled in Parliament before seeing its contents, with Cabinet yet to discuss its substance.
Minister for Information Lynda Tabuya said Cabinet’s discussion on Wednesday focused on the process for bringing the report to Parliament, rather than its recommendations.
“It’s a historic time for Fiji,” Ms Tabuya said.
“We need to release it to the public first which will be done when we table it in Parliament, it will be available to the public,” she said.
Ms Tabuya said Cabinet had not discussed the substance of the report and ministers would also have to wait until it was tabled before expressing their views.
“I will not be able to share any of that, because we did not discuss the substance of the report. It needs to be left to be tabled first in Parliament.”
She said the constitutional amendment process would then involve a first, second and third reading of the Constitution Amendment Bill.
A special parliamentary committee will also be established to scrutinise the Bill once it is tabled.
“It needs to be referred to a special committee.”
Ms Tabuya said a special sitting of Parliament was expected in the next couple of weeks, depending on the availability of the Speaker of the House who is currently abroad.
“Everyone will need to reserve their views until then.”
