Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the review of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 must produce a framework that reflects the needs of the current population while remaining relevant to future generations.
Rabuka made the remarks in Parliament after supporting a motion to extend the deadline for the Special Committee reviewing the Bill to complete its work and submit its report at a later sitting.
He said the Government was not pushing any particular position through the review process, stressing that the focus should be on proposals that benefit the people of Fiji.
“We are not pushing anything from this Government side. We are promoting everything that will be of benefit to the people of Fiji,” Rabuka told Parliament.
He said the country must consider how its population was changing, particularly with the next national census expected next year, and ensure the Constitution remained relevant as Fiji’s population evolved.
“We must accept the views brought up by the honourable members that this Constitution must be a Constitution of today and still applicable and relevant for the populations coming after us,” he said.
Rabuka said the review provided an opportunity to develop a Constitution that served both the present population and future generations.
“I honestly believe that if we do this one well, we will be able to have a Constitution that serves the current population of Fiji and also the new generations that are coming up,” he said.
He also commended members of the Special Committee for their work, describing their approach to the consultations and submissions as earnest and responsible.
Rabuka said the committee would ensure its findings were fair to Parliament and took into account the interests of the wider public when the report was presented to the House.
He noted that the major part of the coalition Government had not made formal submissions to the review process, although the Government had previously lodged a submission with the Constitution Review Commission.
Individual members may also have raised their views during consultation meetings.
Following Rabuka’s remarks, Parliament put the motion to a vote.
The motion, which allows the Special Committee to submit its review report at a later sitting, was passed unanimously, with no member opposing it.
The motion also provides for Professor Biman Prasad to be replaced by Sachida Nand as a member of the Special Committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026.
The committee is continuing its examination of submissions and proposals relating to the proposed constitutional amendments before reporting back to Parliament.
