Questions raised over 2013 Constitution author

Concerns about the transparency and authorship of Fiji's 2013 Constitution have surfaced during a public consultation on the proposed CUMA Bill. Damiano Logaivau, representing the proposed Liberation Party, voiced dissatisfaction with the drafting process, contrasting it with previous constitutions that had clear authors and open procedures.

Logaivau asserted that Fijians have a right to know who authored their supreme law and under what authority it was drafted. "We want to know who wrote it. That question is significant for the whole of Fiji," he stated, adding that his inquiries to various individuals and institutions had yielded no clear answers.

Responding to these concerns, Member of Parliament Jone Usamate acknowledged the questions but pointed out that Fiji's current governance, including Parliament, operates under the 2013 Constitution. He noted that any proposed changes would necessitate formal constitutional amendments.

Committee member Ratu Josaia Niudamu echoed Logaivau's sentiment, admitting his own lack of knowledge regarding the Constitution's author. He suggested directing the question to former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. Niudamu also advised the public to respect the Supreme Court's ruling on the Constitution and await the outcomes of ongoing discussions concerning potential amendments.

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We want to know who wrote it. That question is significant for the whole of Fiji.