Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu has defended his party’s decision to remain in the parliamentary committee reviewing the Constitution Amendment Bill, saying the process must continue to represent the voices and interests of the people of Fiji.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr Seruiratu said the Constitution belonged to the people and should not be treated as the property of any political party or government.
“I have been hearing as well from the consultations that the Constitution belongs to the people of Fiji, not to a political party or government. It is owned by the people,” he said.
Mr Seruiratu said his party had chosen to remain in the Special Parliamentary Committee because withdrawing would leave fewer voices to challenge proposed changes and represent public concerns.
“Government needs to be challenged with some of the changes, recommendations, the rights and the interests that are coming up in the amendments,” he said.
“If we also pull out of this process, then who is going to represent the voices of the people of Fiji?”
He said the Opposition approached the process with an open mind, stressing that the constitutional review was about the future of Fiji.
“We come with a very open mind when we are approaching this, Honourable Speaker, because this is about Fiji. Let’s do it right and once and for all,” he said.
Mr Seruiratu also addressed speculation circulating on social media about the Opposition’s involvement in the committee, including claims that members had been offered diplomatic positions.
“There is a lot of speculation going on in social media, and that needs to be corrected as well. Even to the extent where people are saying that we have already been offered diplomatic posts,” he said.
He said such speculation was not helping the process move forward.
Mr Seruiratu said his party respected the decisions of other political parties that had chosen to withdraw, but maintained that the Opposition had a responsibility to remain engaged.
He also rejected suggestions that the party had been pressured or had already decided to support the Government’s proposed amendments.
He said he had been questioned about whether the Opposition had decided to support the Government and whether he had been approached by the Prime Minister.
Mr Seruiratu said the Opposition remained committed to the parliamentary process and had chosen not to participate in the town hall engagement activity held the previous week out of respect for Parliament’s proceedings.
He maintained that remaining in the committee was about ensuring public concerns, rights and interests continued to be heard during the constitutional review.
