Bill to Amend 2013 Constitution to Be Tabled

Government is likely to table a bill to amend relevant provisions of the 2013 Constitution in this month’s sitting of parliament that begins today.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka had confirmed this while speaking to Fijians in the United States last month.

Mr Rabuka assured them that Government was working towards reviewing the 2013 Constitution.

“Second week of March, we will table a bill in parliament to review some chapters in the 2013 Constitution,” Mr Rabuka said.

“We needed 75 per cent, now that the nine from FijiFirst party has joined, we only need four, we are confident of that too,” he told Fijians in the U.S.

A Cabinet meeting in January approved measures to initiate the review of the 2013 Constitution.

Cabinet had finalised that a Bill to amend relevant provisions of Chapter 11 of the 2013 Constitution would be finalised for tabling in Parliament.

Cabinet also agreed that a Constitution Review Commission (the Commission) is also expected to be appointed to engage the people of Fiji in a consultative process regarding the 2013 Constitution.

With cabinet’s endorsement, both the bill and the CRC will now form part of the Coalition Government’s Legislative Programme of 2025.

Speaking in Parliament last week, President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu said Government’s legislative agenda was ambitious but necessary to drive economic growth, enhance national security and includes the critical review of our Constitutional Framework to reflect the evolving aspirations of our people.

“This review will ensure that our supreme law aligns with the principles of inclusivity, fairness, and justice,” Ratu Naiqama said.

“We invite all citizens to participate in this process, for a Constitution must reflect the aspirations of its people.”

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