NFP supports review of the 2013 Constitution

National Federation Party President, Parmod Chand says the party supports the review of 2013 Constitution as it is a draconian legislation that evolved from an illegal process and was imposed on the people of Fiji.

Chand says its review is absolutely necessary to ensure that Fiji’s supreme law is a product of a genuinely democratic and legitimate process.

He says NFP, the only party in Fiji history to have witnessed the formulation and implementation of four Constitutions since the beginning of our independent history in 1970, has maintained that the 2013 Constitution was a facade of democracy because its formulation did not follow Decrees 57 and 58 of 2012.

The Fiji Constitutional Process (Constitution Commission) Decree, (Decree No. 57) outlined the limits to the work of a Constitution Commission and stipulated the timeline for the acceptance of the Constitution and its assent by the President.

Decree 58, Fiji Constitutional Process (Constituent Assembly and Adoption of Constitution) Decree set out the limitations on the Constituent Assembly that was to deliberate on the draft report prepared by the Commission.

Chand says the NFP has in their 2014 and 2018 general election manifestos as well as the vision document for the 2022 elections emphasized the need to review the Constitution.

He says the review of the Constitution, together with the work of the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission will provide Fiji a firm and unbreakable foundation that will lead to lasting social, economic and political advancement of our nation.

The NFP President says they will await the beginning of the review process to articulate the party’s views in the appropriate forums of either Parliament or the proposed Commission.