Politician Mick Beddoes is calling for reserved seats in the elections for the ethnic communities in Fiji however he said everyone should vote for these seats.
Beddoes suggests in his personal submission to the Constitution Commission that there should be 72 seats in parliament and the breakdown to be 39 for Fijian, 26 for Indian, 1 for Rotuman and 3 for minorities.
He said this will ensure that most of the ethnic communities in Fiji will have representation in parliament and the majority indigenous community will no longer have to fear being marginalized in their own land by migrant communities.
He also said that there should be reserved seats for the youth, the disabled, senior citizens/pensioners.
Beddoes has also called for the re-establishment and strengthening of the Great Council of Chiefs.
He also said that the GCC should be given constitutional responsibilities and complete independence from government.
Beddoes also recommends that the GCC recommend 2 to 3 names for election to the President's post to the Supervisor of Elections and all registered voters to vote in a President.
A major change Beddoes is suggesting is that there should be changes in relation to the eligibility of election candidates for 2014.
He said anyone convicted, imprisoned or declared bankrupt after the 2006 coup should be allowed to register and contest in the next elections and an independent judicial inquiry to then look into the matter after the new parliament sits.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
