‘Draft constitution a secret until delivered to president'

The Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) says it is legally prohibited from releasing its draft Constitution, recommendations or final report before they are submitted to President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.

Responding to questions over transparency, CRC chairperson Sevuloni Valenitabua said the Commission was bound by law to keep its deliberations confidential.

“We are prohibited by law to release any evidence to anyone except His Excellency,” he said.

“Any report we write, we cannot release. Any recommendations from us we cannot release.”

He said only public consultation sessions were open for media coverage and public scrutiny.

“The amended draft Constitution will not be released until it gets to His Excellency and then to Government.”

Mr Valenitabua said this was a legal requirement under the Commission of Inquiry Act.

The clarification came after concerns were raised that the Commission’s work could face the same fate as last year’s Electoral Review Commission report, which has yet to be publicly released.

However, Mr Valenitabua refused to speculate on what Government would do once it received the report.

“Our mandate is to prepare the report, recommendations and draft amended Constitution and hand them to His Excellency,” he said.

“Whether it is released afterwards is a matter for the political process.”

He said the public had been given significant access throughout the consultation period through open hearings and live coverage of submissions.

sosiveta.korobiau@fijisun.com.fj