‘MPs Forget Voters After Elections’
“40 MPs voted for the amendment, 14 were against it, and one Member of Parliament did not vote,” she added.
Thursday 08 May 2025 | 13:45
Electoral Law Reform Commission chairperson Daniel Fatiaki (seated second from left), Wadan Narsey (right), Deidre Brookes (third from left), and Seni Nabou (left), with participants at Navoci Village. Photos: Fiji Law Reform Commission
After the election, most constituency representatives forget the voters, says Wadan Narsey.
Mr Narsey made this comment in response to participants during a Review of the Electoral Law Consultation at Navoci Village, Nadi, on Tuesday. He is part of the review team.
Participants were asked if they could identify the Member of Parliament (MP) representing them.
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A participant, Eleni Pareti, said they would prefer a district representative they could vote for, to represent them in Parliament.
“We just want a representative whom we know, and who knows us well and the issues we are facing.
“We also prefer his or her office to be near us or in our district, so it will be easier for us to reach out to him or her.”
Mr Narsey said most representatives from a district, once elected, forget those who voted for them.
“You can choose anyone from your village or district, and you may have voted for him or her, but after the election, they forget about all those who voted them in,” he said.
Ms Pareti also suggested a change in constituencies, as the laws in the electoral act need to be amended.
Reform team member Seni Nabou said it would be hard to change the 2013 Constitution, as the bill to amend it was defeated in Parliament.
“The Government did not meet the 75 percent requirement.
“40 MPs voted for the amendment, 14 were against it, and one Member of Parliament did not vote,” she added.
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