Government’s commitment to uphold the socioeconomic rights of all Fijians has been tested since COVID-19 battered the economy. However, Government is meeting that challenge with historic levels of support to all Fijians.

This is what President Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote said in his address on the occasion of the eighth Anniversary of Fiji’s Constitution. He said the Fijian Constitution is one of the most progressive in the world

Like most other constitutions, he said Fiji’s constitution enshrines political and civil rights, such as the right to vote and the right of freedom of speech.

“But our Fijian Constitution goes further, enshrining a vast array of socioeconomic rights that ensure equality of opportunity in our economy,” President Konrote said.

“Ahead of this eighth anniversary of our Fijian Constitution, we asked students to look at one of those socioeconomic rights –– the right to social protection schemes.”

He said Government provides free education, subsidised water, electricity and transportation to school, and would soon provide free sanitary pads for female students.

“The poverty benefit scheme, social pension scheme, disability allowance, the child protection allowances, the food voucher programme for rural pregnant women and subsidised bus fares for the elderly and those living with disabilities and the unemployment benefits, including for those in the informal sector, food rations, and the subsidised treatment at private general practitioner clinics provided by Government all form a social safety net protects those most vulnerable in Fijian society.”

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