"The electoral system is clearly protected in the Constitution. Therefore, should not the constitution be amended first? The only changes that the Government can make are the procedural and operational parts of the elections. But the government’s statement implied that the review would change the electoral system. This is incorrect and clearly a political ploy."
 |  Statement by Savenaca Narube, leader of Unity Fiji, on the reforms of the electoral laws “A statement by the Government said that the review of the electoral laws had begun, and submissions were to close next week. The reforms of the electoral laws is an important process. But the people have been given very little time to submit their opinions on these important laws before the deadline. |
This means a few things:
1. First, the Government does not care for the views of the people. The advertisement will tick the box that they have called for submission. But they have no interest in receiving any views from the people. Doesn’t this sound familiar? Yes, this is the tactic of the Fiji First government. As the days go past, the coalition Government is beginning to look more and more like Fiji First.
2. Second, the electoral system is clearly protected in the Constitution. Therefore, should not the constitution be amended first? The only changes that the Government can make are the procedural and operational parts of the elections. But the government’s statement implied that the review would change the electoral system. This is incorrect and clearly a political ploy.
3. Third, the Government seems to be more interested in playing mind games than making real changes. They are clearly putting their interest first, not the country’s. This continues the legacy of Fiji First.
We have seen a string of important legal decisions by this Government that defy common sense. Their constitution amendment motion was defeated because of poor planning. The Prime Minister seems to have downplayed this great embarrassment. To save face, the Government quickly announced that they would take a motion to the Supreme Court on the amendment of the 2013 Constitution. No one knows specifically what motion they would take as the Constitution clearly requires that any amendment would have to follow the processes provided in the Constitution.
These constitutional blunders are on top of the many legal blunders that the Government has made since they took office.
It is therefore reasonable to seek answers to the following questions:
a) Does the Government have the right people in the top legal positions?
b) Does Government know what it is doing?
c) Does the government know where it is going?
d) Does the leader know what is going on?
By what we have seen since December 2022, it is difficult to give positive answers to all the above questions.”
1. First, the Government does not care for the views of the people. The advertisement will tick the box that they have called for submission. But they have no interest in receiving any views from the people. Doesn’t this sound familiar? Yes, this is the tactic of the Fiji First government. As the days go past, the coalition Government is beginning to look more and more like Fiji First.
2. Second, the electoral system is clearly protected in the Constitution. Therefore, should not the constitution be amended first? The only changes that the Government can make are the procedural and operational parts of the elections. But the government’s statement implied that the review would change the electoral system. This is incorrect and clearly a political ploy.
3. Third, the Government seems to be more interested in playing mind games than making real changes. They are clearly putting their interest first, not the country’s. This continues the legacy of Fiji First.
We have seen a string of important legal decisions by this Government that defy common sense. Their constitution amendment motion was defeated because of poor planning. The Prime Minister seems to have downplayed this great embarrassment. To save face, the Government quickly announced that they would take a motion to the Supreme Court on the amendment of the 2013 Constitution. No one knows specifically what motion they would take as the Constitution clearly requires that any amendment would have to follow the processes provided in the Constitution.
These constitutional blunders are on top of the many legal blunders that the Government has made since they took office.
It is therefore reasonable to seek answers to the following questions:
a) Does the Government have the right people in the top legal positions?
b) Does Government know what it is doing?
c) Does the government know where it is going?
d) Does the leader know what is going on?
By what we have seen since December 2022, it is difficult to give positive answers to all the above questions.”
