SODELPA Leader Sitiveni Rabuka says that the 2013 Constitution is defective and this is why a SODELPA Government will amend the constitution.
This was said by Rabuka during the launch of the SODELPA Manifesto at Kshatriya Hall in Suva yesterday.
When questioned by Fijivillage about the amendments that a SODELPA Government will make to the Constitution, Rabuka says that this will be part of their legislative programmes.
Rabuka says that they would like to bring back the 1997 constitution which he says is still not properly abrogated according to the Court decision and it is still there.
He adds that the 1997 constitution has the will of the people unlike the 2013 constitution.
The SODELPA manifesto states that they will review and amend the constitution however the specific amendments have not been revealed.
The SODELPA manifesto also says that SODELPA will put Zero‑rated VAT on basic need food items however the items have not been revealed
A SODELPA Government will removal the Sales Turnover Tax and Environment Levy and they say that they will also reduce inflation.
Further details have not been revealed on how inflation will be reduced.
They will impose $4 minimum wage, re‑establish a Tripartite Forum for Workers Rights and subsidize the apprenticeship scheme and graduate placement program.
The SODELPA Leader told Fijivillage that they will remove the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme and current students under the TELS program will not have to repay their debt.
SODELPA will re‑establish the Education Commission to conduct a holistic review of the education system and they will reintroduce the scholarship scheme.
Their manifesto says a SODELPA Government will restore the civil service retirement age to 60 years and Rabuka says that this will be voluntary as people can still apply for retirement at 55.
Other issues in the SODELPA manifesto includes increasing the Health Budget, reduce poverty by 10% and removal of Capital Gains Tax.
We are trying to get more details on this.
SODELPA will also reintroduce long term contracts to civil servants.
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