The National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF) has decided to extend the timeframe for public consultations on the draft Peoples Charter until mid December.

The decision follows reports from each of the Divisional Commissioners which indicate that more time is needed to enable the Public outreach teams to reach their target audience in each Division.

The Council said the extension is necessary to ensure that the process is not rushed and the Draft Peoples Charter is circulated as widely as possible, that the people are given further time to consider the merits of the Draft Peoples Charter by reading the document themselves and that they are able to make an independent and informed decision.

The Council also noted with appreciation, the wide spread support received to date from people who have been able to read the Charter for themselves.

The NCBBF said it has also deferred any discussion and debate on the views and opinions to-date on the draft charter until the completion of its outreach and consultation program.

The Co-Chair and interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama also informed the NCBBF of his intention to promote the Draft Peoples Charter as the way forward for Fiji in his address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and also during the bilateral discussions he planned to have with other national leaders at the meeting.

The NCBBF also endorsed to a request by Commodore Bainimarama to include the head of the Technical Support Secretariat John Samy as an adviser for the Fiji delegation to New York, to assist on Peoples Charter related matters.