Sitiveni Rabuka seeks more time for Constitution Bill review before November report

Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, has asked Parliament to extend the work of the joint special committee examining the Constitution Amendment Bill, saying it needs additional time to consider public submissions and complete its report. Rabuka wrote to the Speaker requesting the extension. He said the public response had been encouraging, while also noting concerns from the committee’s secretariat and members that people should be given more time to review the proposals and share their views. The committee plans to invite written and oral submissions, with details of the venues and times to be advertised. Rabuka said the submissions would begin to be compiled at the end of the following week, with the report and proposed constitutional amendment targeted for presentation on 30 November. The proposed amendment is expected to be brought before Parliament for debate during that sitting week. A final vote on the bill’s third reading is expected on 4 December, according to the report. The requested extension would therefore give the committee more time to hear from the public before lawmakers consider the measure. Rabuka said the process would include both written comments and opportunities for people to make oral submissions, though the article did not provide further details about the specific changes being proposed to the Constitution.