Sabha trustee Pt Kamlesh Arya in a statement said the Council of Advisors of the Sabha met and gave a thorough attention to the provisions of the Draft and appreciated its contents which to them are inclusive, uniting and accepting.
Pt Arya said they support the idea of Fiji being Secular and of equal citizenry and appreciated the Bill of Rights provisions. They also acknowledge and appreciate the provisions of Freedom of Religion, Right to education and right to privacy and the removal of the race based politics and reducing the size of the Parliament to 45 representatives. The Independence of the Judiciary and provisions of the Right to equality and Freedom from Discrimination and the provision of the Constitutional authority to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption have also been welcomed.
The Sabha also notes the non electable position of the President and strongly submits that this provision be reviewed with a view of making the Office of the President electable by the general populace rather than limiting it to the Parliament. “The President holds the highest office in the country and as such ought to carry the mandate of the people rather than the elected representatives. The level of ownership in the proposed draft for the position of the President of the new Republic of Fiji is seriously compromised,” said Pt Arya.
On the issue of the Commander in Chief of the Military is vested in the Prime Minister rather than the President, Pt Arya said the authority of the Commander in Chief of the Military continues to be vested in the office of the President as has been the case so far. He said the shift seems to be entrenching too much of political and executive authority into the office of the Prime Minister. He added that declaration of interests be mandated by the Constitution and elected representatives should declare their interests and personal assets. The Sabha also supports the Bainimarama government’s stance on same sex marriages. The consultations on the draft Constitution will come to an end tomorrow. Source: Fiji Live
Other political news
The Fiji Teachers Union is meeting today to discuss "The Status of Teachers in an Evolving Democracy:. Secretary Agni Deo Singh said the union has major concerns with the Political Parties Decree which prevents unions from forming political parties.
USP Land Management assistant lecturer Paula Raqeukai told Radio Australia any Fiji constitution must recognize indigenous rights, especially in land matters. He said if the constitution does not recognise indigenous rights then it will fail.
Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has repeatedly said landowner’s rights are well protected and government is not going to take land away. Sayed-Khaiyum said the new State Lands (Amendment) Decree 2013 would safeguard iTaukei land ownership and prevent previous practices that were not transparent and used by previous Governments to profit at the expense of iTaukei landowners. He also said landowner’s permission was a priority for government and their approval is always sort first before using the land.
Ed. note. I cannot understand why Government does not include a constitutional provision protecting iTaukai land. It may be unnecessary, as Sayed-Khaiyum says, but its inclusion would remove doubts that are being used by Government opponents to generate opposition to the draft, and to Government itself.
Similarly, I can understand the positions of both Government and the trade unions on the Political Parties Decree and, indeed, the Essential Industries Decree. Some union leaders have been consistently anti-government but government has made the relationship worse by effectively cutting their links to workers at work places. This legislation is arguably necessary until the political situation cools but it should be seen as a temporary measure to be reviewed when an elected government is formed. Government conveys the impression the legislation will be there for all time.
Meanwhile, the old parties are waiting to hear from the Registrar of Political Parties on whether their applications have been accepted. Bernadette Round Ganilau's small Green party seems a non starter. She says they are "monitoring the big parties for now" but for what purpose is unclear.
Many people in Fiji are crossing their fingers and hoping that the old parties, if re-registered, have learnt something from the past six years and are now genuine about multi-racialism and a fairer Fiji. Others doubt there will be any genuine change, and pin their hopes on the now likely PM's party, in the belief that it will remain true to its vision for a better Fiji, but with some doubts about some decrees and the future role of the military. Others hope that new political parties will be formed so that they do not have to make a choice between the old parties and Bainimarama's party. There is time for this yet but the formation of a new political party that has the resources to be effective and to win votes still seems a long way away. Whatever the final outcome, no one party seems likely to win a majority of seats in the new parliament.
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/ganilau-yet-to-make-party-application/53725.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
FIJI NEWS
Ganilau yet to make party application
April 29, 2013 02:11:38 PM
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Former politician Bernadette Rounds Ganilau is yet to apply to register a
party for the 2014 general elections.
“We are monitoring the big parties for now and have not decided on
making an application to form a party yet," Ganilau told FijiLive.
“A lot of them have submitted their applications, however we will not be
doing anything soon except to just stand on the sideline and observe,”
she said.
She also confirmed that she will not be joining any proposed political
parties soon.
Ganilau’s former party Green Party of Fiji was dissolved after the
introduction of the new Political Parties’ Decree earlier this year.
Ganilau has previously served as former Minister for Labour, Minister
for Tourism, Industrial Relations, Productivity and Environment.
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/ganilau-yet-to-make-party-application/53725.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/ganilau-yet-to-make-party-application/53725.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Any Constitution in
Fiji has to recognise indigenous rights and this especially includes
land, says University of the South Pacific’s Land Management Assistant
Lecturer Paula Raqeukai.
Raqeukai in his submission on the draft Constitution called for the
protection of indigenous rights to land, culture and language, while
balancing that with meeting the needs of other communities.
In an interview with Radio Australia he said if the constitution does
not recognise indigenous rights then it will fail.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while responding to
queries about I-taukei land issues said the landowner’s rights are well
protected with regards to their land and government is not going to take
land away.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the new State Lands (Amendment) Decree 2013 would
safeguard iTaukei land ownership and do away with previous practices
which was not transparent and used by previous Governments to profit at
the expense of iTaukei landowners.
He also said landowner’s permission was a priority for government and
their approval is always sort first before using the land.
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/constitution-should-recognise-indigenous-rights-academic/53730.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/constitution-should-recognise-indigenous-rights-academic/53730.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Any Constitution in
Fiji has to recognise indigenous rights and this especially includes
land, says University of the South Pacific’s Land Management Assistant
Lecturer Paula Raqeukai.
Raqeukai in his submission on the draft Constitution called for the
protection of indigenous rights to land, culture and language, while
balancing that with meeting the needs of other communities.
In an interview with Radio Australia he said if the constitution does
not recognise indigenous rights then it will fail.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while responding to
queries about I-taukei land issues said the landowner’s rights are well
protected with regards to their land and government is not going to take
land away.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the new State Lands (Amendment) Decree 2013 would
safeguard iTaukei land ownership and do away with previous practices
which was not transparent and used by previous Governments to profit at
the expense of iTaukei landowners.
He also said landowner’s permission was a priority for government and
their approval is always sort first before using the land.
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/constitution-should-recognise-indigenous-rights-academic/53730.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/constitution-should-recognise-indigenous-rights-academic/53730.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Any Constitution in
Fiji has to recognise indigenous rights and this especially includes
land, says University of the South Pacific’s Land Management Assistant
Lecturer Paula Raqeukai.
Raqeukai in his submission on the draft Constitution called for the
protection of indigenous rights to land, culture and language, while
balancing that with meeting the needs of other communities.
In an interview with Radio Australia he said if the constitution does
not recognise indigenous rights then it will fail.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while responding to
queries about I-taukei land issues said the landowner’s rights are well
protected with regards to their land and government is not going to take
land away.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the new State Lands (Amendment) Decree 2013 would
safeguard iTaukei land ownership and do away with previous practices
which was not transparent and used by previous Governments to profit at
the expense of iTaukei landowners.
He also said landowner’s permission was a priority for government and
their approval is always sort first before using the land.
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/constitution-should-recognise-indigenous-rights-academic/53730.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/constitution-should-recognise-indigenous-rights-academic/53730.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Any Constitution in
Fiji has to recognise indigenous rights and this especially includes
land, says University of the South Pacific’s Land Management Assistant
Lecturer Paula Raqeukai.
Raqeukai in his submission on the draft Constitution called for the
protection of indigenous rights to land, culture and language, while
balancing that with meeting the needs of other communities.
In an interview with Radio Australia he said if the constitution does
not recognise indigenous rights then it will fail.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while responding to
queries about I-taukei land issues said the landowner’s rights are well
protected with regards to their land and government is not going to take
land away.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the new State Lands (Amendment) Decree 2013 would
safeguard iTaukei land ownership and do away with previous practices
which was not transparent and used by previous Governments to profit at
the expense of iTaukei landowners.
He also said landowner’s permission was a priority for government and
their approval is always sort first before using the land.
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/constitution-should-recognise-indigenous-rights-academic/53730.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/constitution-should-recognise-indigenous-rights-academic/53730.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Any Constitution in
Fiji has to recognise indigenous rights and this especially includes
land, says University of the South Pacific’s Land Management Assistant
Lecturer Paula Raqeukai.
Raqeukai in his submission on the draft Constitution called for the
protection of indigenous rights to land, culture and language, while
balancing that with meeting the needs of other communities.
In an interview with Radio Australia he said if the constitution does
not recognise indigenous rights then it will fail.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while responding to
queries about I-taukei land issues said the landowner’s rights are well
protected with regards to their land and government is not going to take
land away.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the new State Lands (Amendment) Decree 2013 would
safeguard iTaukei land ownership and do away with previous practices
which was not transparent and used by previous Governments to profit at
the expense of iTaukei landowners.
He also said landowner’s permission was a priority for government and
their approval is always sort first before using the land.
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/constitution-should-recognise-indigenous-rights-academic/53730.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com
Read more at: http://www.fijilive.com/news/2013/04/constitution-should-recognise-indigenous-rights-academic/53730.Fijilive
Copyright 2013 © Fijilive.com