FORMER attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has urged Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to halt the proposed Constitution Amendment Bill 2026, saying more time is needed to scrutinise its complex provisions.
Speaking at a public consultation on the Bill in Labasa yesterday, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the proposed amendments required careful examination and cross-referencing.
“Prime Minister, I would please urge you, you still have the power and the capacity to stop this amendment bill,” he said.
“You don’t do the third reading. I think the overwhelming majority of the people are saying we need more time.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said there was no urgency to push through the amendments, given their proposed commencement date of March 31, 2028.
“It’s a very complex document. It needs a lot of cross-referencing,” he said.
“It’s very, very wrong in many of its provisions. It goes against the Constitution.”
He urged Mr Rabuka to consider holding the next general election before proceeding with the proposed changes.
“Have the elections. You’ll be given the mandate, and you can go forth from there.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said halting the Bill to allow further scrutiny would demonstrate leadership and strengthen the integrity of the constitutional amendment process.
He also raised concerns about proposed changes to the parliamentary term and the allocation of special seats to five maritime areas.
He questioned why those areas should receive special treatment compared with other parts of Fiji, including parts of Vanua Levu and other island groups.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum called for greater scrutiny of the proposed amendments before Parliament proceeded with the Bill.
