Charter team proposes smaller Govt

November 13, 2012 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom
By MAIKELI SERU

The National Peoples Charter Advisory Council (NPCAC) has proposed for the establishment of a smaller and efficient government to rule Fiji.

This is part of the Council’s 19 key points submitted to the Constitution Commission.

Council chairman Josefa Serulagilagi, his deputy Lorini Tevi, and working committee members Father David Arms, Dewan Maharaj, Ratu Filimone Ralogaivau, and Jone Dakuvula presented their submission before Commission members Professor Satendra Nandan and Taufa Vakatale last Friday.

Their 19 key issues are;
• The President to be appointed by the Parliament
• Abolition of the Senate
• Seats in the House of Representative be reduced by 25 per cent (71 to 54 seats)
• Multi-member and open list system of proportional representation – electoral system
• Cabinet should comprise of no more than 25 per cent of the total Parliament
• Republic of Fiji Military Forces – role as a security institution
• Ratification of the constitution – extensive civic education be undertaken on the new constitution by a neutral body
• Code of conduct – a leadership model be developed for elected or non-elected leaders
• Reduce the size of government – efficient and effective service
• Adoption of Pillar 1 of the People’s Charter – ensuring sustainable democracy and good and just governance
• Multiple citizenship
• Bill of Rights to be enshrined in the constitution
• Commission on the Prerogative of Mercy
• Endorse the independence of the judiciary
- Establishment of various independent offices including the following;
- National People’s Charter Council
- Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption
- Fiji Human Rights Commission

• Improvement of national security co-ordination
• Freedom of Information legislation – information on Government operations and leaders
• Transitional provisions be included in the new constitution to allow for existing promulgations and decrees that were gazetted after the dissolution of Parliament and the abrogation of the 1997 constitution to continue in force until such time the elected Parliament decides otherwise.

All laws made between December 2006 and the first sitting of Parliament under the new Constitution must remain valid unless the Parliament decides otherwise.

In making their submission to the Constitution Commission, Mr Serulagilagi said the guiding values and principles of the Peoples Charter would chart Fiji on the path of development and prosperity, a just and better Fiji built on the foundation of equality.