Commodore
J. V. Bainimarama, CF(Mil), OSt.J, MSD, jssc, psc
Prime
Minister of Fiji and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning,
National Development and Statistics, the Public Service, People’s
Charter and Change and Progress, Information, iTaukei Affairs,
Provincial Development, Sugar Industry and Lands and Mineral
Resources
__________________________________________________________________________________
LIVE
ADDRESS TO THE NATION ON FIJI CONSTITUTION
___________________________________________________________________________
State
Room 10th January, 2013
Government House
Your
Excellency
My
fellow Fijians
Bula
Vinaka and Good Evening to you all.
I
firstly wish to thank and acknowledge the leadership and wisdom shown
by His Excellency our President. Our vision to create a truly
democratic nation under an elected parliamentary system will be
etched in history, thanks to His Excellency our President.
As
requested by His Excellency, the Government's legal team will amend
the Ghai Draft to ensure that the draft Constitution presented to the
Constituent Assembly
is one that is:
- positive;
- addresses fundamental issues of good governance;
- will result in an enduring Constitution; and
- guarantees true democracy.
As
His Excellency has highlighted, there are a number of key provisions
in the Ghai Draft that are most valuable, in particular to do with
accountability, transparency and enforcement of human rights which
incorporate socio-economic rights.
The
new draft should be available for deliberation by the end of January
2013. Prior to that and upon my return from the G77 meeting, I shall
send out invitations to various individuals and organisations to
participate in the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly is
to have its first sitting in February 2013. We expect, as announced
last year, that a new Constitution should be in place by March of
this year.
While
history tells us that some individuals and organisations tend to act
only in their own interests, I urge all political parties,
organisations and individuals who are invited to be members of the
Constituent Assembly to participate.
This
is not a time for point scoring or thinking only about our individual
interests, but to think about the future. It is a time to think about
our country. To think about our children. To think about development.
To think about improving the lives of our citizens. We must
collectively ensure a smooth transition to parliamentary democracy.
We
are on track to hold truly democratic elections under the principle
of common and equal citizenry and the principle of one person, one
vote, one value. Over half a million Fijians have registered. The
Ministry responsible for elections is currently putting in place
logistical arrangements to register Fijians living offshore.
This
Saturday, we will publish an advertisement, calling for expressions
of interest from companies that wish to tender to provide election
material for the conduct of the 2014 election. These include ballot
boxes, poll kits and other election related items. This advertisement
will also be disseminated through our overseas missions. Letters will
also be sent to our development partners through their missions in
Fiji inviting them to partner in this process should they wish to.
To
those who have been commenting on the Ghai Draft, these are readily
available through the internet and indeed all the 599 copies that
were printed by the Ghai Commission will be distributed during the
Constituent Assembly process.
Of
course, the Constituent Assembly will deliberate the new Draft.
My
fellow Fijians, by Tuesday next week, we will put in place the
Registration of Political Parties Decree which will set new and
internationally accepted standards of political party governance.
Indeed many provisions of the Ghai Draft in this respect have been
incorporated into this law.
My
fellow Fijians, we are now on the verge of holding elections for
parliamentary representation. We are on the verge of putting in place
a new Constitution.
It
is therefore a time for a collective effort on all our parts to
ensure that we move to the next phase without any hurdles with the
view to sustained democracy and prosperity for all Fijians.
Vinaka
Vakalevu.
7 comments:
another coup.
Another unsuccessful attempt by the Fiji elites to regain their old power and authority.
Oh no it was those 'nasty NGO's' who moan about beatings and human rights abuses...Perhaps it was the 'evil media' for reporting it and we already know it was the pernicious foreigners who funded it and ruined it for the military. All part of the master plan!!! Perhaps we should also blame the Methodist church as they were praying for it to fail too!! Shame on them...lol Six years in power and they stil rant about elites...perhaps they will unilaterally appoint an Indian woman as the next president to confirm how TRULY egalitarian they are ??
so why go through this charade of 'consultation' when they are gonna do what they want anyway...this was the process Croz was supporting and defending? and was predicted by opponents of the military government to fail.given they don't really want consultation but a forum to tell what they should be thinking and doing!!!
@satish26:
Who are the "they" that you speak of?; and why the compulsion to display your racist bigotry ("..an Indian woman ...etc)? It has no relevance to the subject matter.
There was nothing racist in it...just sarcasm. Well?..can we expect this i-taukei military that has fought so hard for indians and other minorities to actually give anyone else some power? Its a cruel joke on everyone as when they mean equality, equity and fairness they don't mean to reform themselves just everyone else. THis bunch of thugs have no moral standing whatsoever.
The PEOPLES draft constitution was rejected by the government, because the people are not smart enough to make their own choices.
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