What will happen if a future government deviates from the plan laid out in the Charter?

This is but one of the questions Academic and one of the three 1997 Constitution architects Dr Brij Lal is asking after the launch of the People's Charter yesterday by the President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.

Lal said that while the Charter's progressive vision is good, the real problem is the way it was conceived.

As a constitution expert, Lal adds that the Charter cannot be binding on future governments as it is not a piece of legislation enacted by parliament and thus has no legal force or standing.

Another question put forward by Lal is how will the Charter be enforced unless there is willingness to abide by its spirit?

He said that the Charter is intended as the basis for governing Fiji in the absence of an elected government but large sections of the community have not agreed and this is also a problem.

Lal said the Charter is very descriptive, it talks about transparency, but adds there is no transparency in the Charter's conception.