Following the FLP annual delegates conference in Nadi, the party said it also believes that the continuing decline of the sugar industry is a major contributing factor to the rise in rural poverty levels as noted in a recent USP survey.
The Fiji Labour Party delegates again spoke in favour of retaining the 1997 Constitution, however, with some amendments particularly those relating to the electoral system and good governance, with the additional insertion of safeguards to hold elected governments accountable.
Delegates also raised concern about certain provisions in the two decrees relating to the constitution making process.
The two overriding concerns were the provisions relating to immunity for the perpetrators of the 2006 and earlier coups where delegates felt that writing immunity provisions into the constitution merely encouraged further coups by taking away such penalties for such a treasonous crime.
The FLP strongly recommended that perpetrators of coups be barred from holding public office for life and that they be made answerable for the treasonous act.
The FLP also raised concern about the absolute powers vested in the prime minister, to control the size of the constituent assembly.
The party referred to commission chairperson Professor Yash Ghai’s comments that the provisions were tantamount to ignoring the essential principles of democracy and negating the independence of the assembly.
Story by: William Waqavakatoga
