Fiji constitution to be ready by 2013, says Bainimarama
July 1 2009
Suva, Fiji: Fiji’s leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama has issued another invitation to its people and the international community to seize the moment and help build a better island nation.
In an address that was televised nationwide, Commodore Bainimarama said work on a new and fair land rental system would begin in 2010, a new constitution would be in place by September 2013 and free and fair elections held under that constitution in September 2014.
He said work on the new document – which will be Fiji’s fourth since it gained independence from Britain in 1970 – will commence in 2012.
Recommendations of his government’s people’s charter would form the basis of the new constitution, said Commodore Bainimarama.
“It will include provisions for a voting system that allows for common and equal citizenry, it will no longer be communal type of voting,” Commodore Bainimarama said.
As proposed by the people’s charter, he said voting age will be reduced to 18 from 21.
Also to come under review in the proposed constitution would be the size of the parliament which used to be 71 seats, the appropriateness of a bi-camel system of a house of representatives and a senate, the term of office of government and the systems of check and balance.
Consultations about the new constitution would be comprehensive Commodore Bainimarama assured, and his government would seek the assistance of the international community in accessing experts and resources.
Since the plan is to have the new constitution ready one year before elections, the people will be encouraged to learn and understand the new document, it will be translated into vernacular languages and made available in pocket book sizes.
He also promised a radical overhaul of the island nation’s complex land tenure system.
He promised to produce a new rental regime that rewards the indigenous owners of the land and provides security to the lessee.
Distribution of lease money which currently benefits only an elite few Commodore Bainimarama said, would also be reviewed under this exercise.
On the economy, Fiji’s leader said his government is a government for change and called on his people to seize the opportunity to modernize it.
He claimed the 20 percent devaluation of the Fiji dollar in April has worked in that improvements had been seen all around in foreign reserves, liquidity, balance of payments and tourist arrivals.
Foreign reserves now stands at $660 million (US$320 million), a huge improvement Commodore Bainimarama said when compared to the $440 million (US$213 million) before devaluation.
Prudent management of public spending over the past five months he said has also saved the country $190 million (US$92 million).
Commodore Bainimarama’s address was given at the Raffles Tradewinds Hotel Convention Centre just outside the capital Suva and attended by his cabinet ministers, senior officials, diplomats, and business and union leaders.
In an address that was televised nationwide, Commodore Bainimarama said work on a new and fair land rental system would begin in 2010, a new constitution would be in place by September 2013 and free and fair elections held under that constitution in September 2014.
He said work on the new document – which will be Fiji’s fourth since it gained independence from Britain in 1970 – will commence in 2012.
Recommendations of his government’s people’s charter would form the basis of the new constitution, said Commodore Bainimarama.
“It will include provisions for a voting system that allows for common and equal citizenry, it will no longer be communal type of voting,” Commodore Bainimarama said.
As proposed by the people’s charter, he said voting age will be reduced to 18 from 21.
Also to come under review in the proposed constitution would be the size of the parliament which used to be 71 seats, the appropriateness of a bi-camel system of a house of representatives and a senate, the term of office of government and the systems of check and balance.
Consultations about the new constitution would be comprehensive Commodore Bainimarama assured, and his government would seek the assistance of the international community in accessing experts and resources.
Since the plan is to have the new constitution ready one year before elections, the people will be encouraged to learn and understand the new document, it will be translated into vernacular languages and made available in pocket book sizes.
He also promised a radical overhaul of the island nation’s complex land tenure system.
He promised to produce a new rental regime that rewards the indigenous owners of the land and provides security to the lessee.
Distribution of lease money which currently benefits only an elite few Commodore Bainimarama said, would also be reviewed under this exercise.
On the economy, Fiji’s leader said his government is a government for change and called on his people to seize the opportunity to modernize it.
He claimed the 20 percent devaluation of the Fiji dollar in April has worked in that improvements had been seen all around in foreign reserves, liquidity, balance of payments and tourist arrivals.
Foreign reserves now stands at $660 million (US$320 million), a huge improvement Commodore Bainimarama said when compared to the $440 million (US$213 million) before devaluation.
Prudent management of public spending over the past five months he said has also saved the country $190 million (US$92 million).
Commodore Bainimarama’s address was given at the Raffles Tradewinds Hotel Convention Centre just outside the capital Suva and attended by his cabinet ministers, senior officials, diplomats, and business and union leaders.
Suva, Fiji: Fiji’s leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama has issued another invitation to its people and the international community to seize the moment and help build a better island nation.In an address that was televised nationwide, Commodore Bainimarama said work on a new and fair land rental...
Suva, Fiji: Fiji’s leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama has issued another invitation to its people and the international community to seize the moment and help build a better island nation.
In an address that was televised nationwide, Commodore Bainimarama said work on a new and fair land rental system would begin in 2010, a new constitution would be in place by September 2013 and free and fair elections held under that constitution in September 2014.
He said work on the new document – which will be Fiji’s fourth since it gained independence from Britain in 1970 – will commence in 2012.
Recommendations of his government’s people’s charter would form the basis of the new constitution, said Commodore Bainimarama.
“It will include provisions for a voting system that allows for common and equal citizenry, it will no longer be communal type of voting,” Commodore Bainimarama said.
As proposed by the people’s charter, he said voting age will be reduced to 18 from 21.
Also to come under review in the proposed constitution would be the size of the parliament which used to be 71 seats, the appropriateness of a bi-camel system of a house of representatives and a senate, the term of office of government and the systems of check and balance.
Consultations about the new constitution would be comprehensive Commodore Bainimarama assured, and his government would seek the assistance of the international community in accessing experts and resources.
Since the plan is to have the new constitution ready one year before elections, the people will be encouraged to learn and understand the new document, it will be translated into vernacular languages and made available in pocket book sizes.
He also promised a radical overhaul of the island nation’s complex land tenure system.
He promised to produce a new rental regime that rewards the indigenous owners of the land and provides security to the lessee.
Distribution of lease money which currently benefits only an elite few Commodore Bainimarama said, would also be reviewed under this exercise.
On the economy, Fiji’s leader said his government is a government for change and called on his people to seize the opportunity to modernize it.
He claimed the 20 percent devaluation of the Fiji dollar in April has worked in that improvements had been seen all around in foreign reserves, liquidity, balance of payments and tourist arrivals.
Foreign reserves now stands at $660 million (US$320 million), a huge improvement Commodore Bainimarama said when compared to the $440 million (US$213 million) before devaluation.
Prudent management of public spending over the past five months he said has also saved the country $190 million (US$92 million).
Commodore Bainimarama’s address was given at the Raffles Tradewinds Hotel Convention Centre just outside the capital Suva and attended by his cabinet ministers, senior officials, diplomats, and business and union leaders.
In an address that was televised nationwide, Commodore Bainimarama said work on a new and fair land rental system would begin in 2010, a new constitution would be in place by September 2013 and free and fair elections held under that constitution in September 2014.
He said work on the new document – which will be Fiji’s fourth since it gained independence from Britain in 1970 – will commence in 2012.
Recommendations of his government’s people’s charter would form the basis of the new constitution, said Commodore Bainimarama.
“It will include provisions for a voting system that allows for common and equal citizenry, it will no longer be communal type of voting,” Commodore Bainimarama said.
As proposed by the people’s charter, he said voting age will be reduced to 18 from 21.
Also to come under review in the proposed constitution would be the size of the parliament which used to be 71 seats, the appropriateness of a bi-camel system of a house of representatives and a senate, the term of office of government and the systems of check and balance.
Consultations about the new constitution would be comprehensive Commodore Bainimarama assured, and his government would seek the assistance of the international community in accessing experts and resources.
Since the plan is to have the new constitution ready one year before elections, the people will be encouraged to learn and understand the new document, it will be translated into vernacular languages and made available in pocket book sizes.
He also promised a radical overhaul of the island nation’s complex land tenure system.
He promised to produce a new rental regime that rewards the indigenous owners of the land and provides security to the lessee.
Distribution of lease money which currently benefits only an elite few Commodore Bainimarama said, would also be reviewed under this exercise.
On the economy, Fiji’s leader said his government is a government for change and called on his people to seize the opportunity to modernize it.
He claimed the 20 percent devaluation of the Fiji dollar in April has worked in that improvements had been seen all around in foreign reserves, liquidity, balance of payments and tourist arrivals.
Foreign reserves now stands at $660 million (US$320 million), a huge improvement Commodore Bainimarama said when compared to the $440 million (US$213 million) before devaluation.
Prudent management of public spending over the past five months he said has also saved the country $190 million (US$92 million).
Commodore Bainimarama’s address was given at the Raffles Tradewinds Hotel Convention Centre just outside the capital Suva and attended by his cabinet ministers, senior officials, diplomats, and business and union leaders.
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