‘Constitution must reflect people’s will, not imposed by few’

Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo, told Parliament last night that the Constitution should be a document the people willingly give to themselves, not one imposed upon them.

He was speaking in response to a motion to suspend Standing Orders 6(5) and 92, allowing the Prime Minister to proceed with the first reading of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025.

The motion also called for the suspension of Standing Orders 92 and 6(5) until the conclusion of the third reading and vote on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025.

“At some point, Mr Speaker, I think all 55 members of this Parliament, we are going to have to accept that this Constitution does not reflect the will of the people, the voice of the people.”

Mr Vosarogo referred to the Supreme Court ruling from April of last year as evidence that the current Constitution was created by a small group of officials, including former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

He emphasised that the Constitution was not given by the people but was “established to them.”

“This Constitution is hereby established. By who? That’s in the preamble. So, it was not given by the people to themselves. It was established to them,” he said.

The minister explained that the motion being presented in the House would allow for a new constitution that better reflects the voices of the people.

“It must be a Constitution that people willingly give to themselves,” he added.

Addressing concerns about the legal aspects of the motion, Mr Vosarogo acknowledged the arguments around whether the motion would repeal, infringe, or diminish the current Constitution.

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