We know that many Fijians are unhappy that they didn’t get the opportunity to be consulted about the contents of the 2013 Constitution – our supreme law. Before it was promulgated, the then attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, held meetings all over the country telling people what was in it but no-one was given the opportunity to suggest changes, let alone veto particular clauses.
So it is easy for even the dimmest of minds to grasp that some people, perhaps a lot of people, aren’t happy that they didn’t have a say in what the nation’s supreme law should contain. The problem is that no-one seems to be able to tell the rest of us precisely WHAT is wrong with it. Which clauses shouldn’t be there? What should be changed? And until they do, those advocates for change have no hope of persuading the rest of us WHY the Constitution should be changed.
Again today, the two daily newspapers in Fiji cover calls by the Great Council of Chiefs for the Constitution to be reviewed without saying why it should be reviewed. Not a single word of explanation about which clauses aren’t in the national interest and should go or be modified. Not a word. And that has been a continual feature of media coverage ever since the last election. ” The Constitution must be reviewed” but never “Why the Constitution must be reviewed”. It is a failure of journalism of the worst kind.
In both papers today, the Chair of the GCC, Ratu Viliame Seruvakula, cites no less than 33 clauses of the Constitution that are bad for the iTaukei and the chiefs want altered without citing a single one. Incredibly, he blames the 2013 Constitution for most of the problems of the iTaukei – a proposition that is patently absurd.
You would think that the reporters for the Fiji Sun and Fiji Times would ask the obvious follow-up. “Yes, Ratu Viliame, but why? How can a single document be the root cause of many of the issues facing the iTaukei?”. But in this instance and most others, the question never comes. There are 33 reasons the Constitution is bad for the iTaukei and you damn well better believe it.
So from far-off Sydney, let this old journalistic dog ask some questions that the local mainstream media in Fiji constantly fails to ask:
1/ What are the “33 clauses” of the 2013 Constitution that disadvantage the iTaukei?
2/ Why do they disadvantage the iTaukei?
3/ What are the precise changes the GCC wants to these clauses?
4/ Do they include the common and equal citizenry, the common identity and the secular state?
The last question is by far the most important. The 2013 Constitution was the first since Independence that provided for a common and equal citizenry and a common identity (Fijian). And if the GCC wants to change that, they are going to have an almighty fight on their hands.
Grubsheet was challenged yesterday by a couple of our correspondents when I said that the common and equal citizenry would be defended by Fiji’s minorities even to the point of armed struggle, if necessary. One accused me of being drunk on Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky ( I wish). But in what other country would one third of the population accept losing their right to equality without a fight?
Blood has been spilt in most modern democracies at one time or another to defend the principle that all men and women are equal. So raising the prospect of the same thing happening in Fiji isn’t in the least bit far fetched. It would be a direct assault on national unity that isn’t in the interests of any citizen, irrespective of ethnicity.
It is high time for the Great Council of Chiefs and the Coalition government from the top down to explain to us all precisely WHY the Constitution needs to be reviewed and changed. It is not good enough to have a foot stomp about the supreme law in general terms without saying which of its provisions don’t meet the required standard.
And let’s have no more nonsense about clauses that affect just the iTaukei. Anyone with half a brain knows that changing anything to suit the purposes of two thirds of the population isn’t going to fly without taking into account the rights of the other one third – the minorities who are already being marginalised by this government but are still equal before the supreme law, in name at least.
And could we please get an undertaking that until such time as the present Constitution is reviewed and modified, that the law is respected and obeyed? The violations of the Constitution by everyone from the Acting Chief Justice down are not only undermining the rule of law in Fiji. They are rattling the minorities – who are already being described as visitors in their own country – and threaten wider investment in the country, without which Fiji would be left as a poverty-stricken economic shell.
And from today’s Fiji Sun…
Mostly men but also some powerful women…
Today’s Fiji Sun – in a stinging editorial by Naisa Koroi – underlines the secrecy and unaccountability of the collection of hereditary chiefs who make up the GCC .
But could we please finally get a proper debate about what laws the GCC and the Coalition government want altered? Because this is all very unsettling for the one third of Fijians who aren’t indigenous. And it is definitely a factor in the decisions being made on an on-going basis in many households about whether to stay in Fiji or leave.
It never seems to dawn on the iTaukei leadership that when those earning over $30,000 a year leave, who else is going to pay tax for them to sit around at the GPH bleating about their disadvantage?
First of all who is paying for this at the GPH. If it’s taxpayers than what can one say. If it’s one of their itaukei boards good luck for the chiefs. The ordinary itaukeis hardly have money to eat decently, forget about staying at GPH.
As for changing the constitution they will go ahead with the chiefs and corrupt itaukeis now in the right places in government , civil service, judiciary etc. Then we have some itaukeis continously talking about the sunset clause. I have never bothered to find out what it is. But they reckon it’s stopping them from progress. The hate on social media is so much one will find that the majority have stopped commenting.
Years down the line they will still be bleating about their unhappiness at something, somebody or the other. Because if you have a bad heart and want to derive your happiness at other’s expense it will not work. Niko will continue to ride on buses and egg on the ordinary folk.
Just the other day I saw a mainland Chinese fella getting his trolley pushed by an elderly man. This is what fiji will come to very soon. The itaukei have never accepted or have been able to work with a more gentle Indian society. Good luck with the Chinese coming in now.
Two years on, what have the GCC done for their people?
Two years on what have the GCC done for their people?
The question should be what have the GCC done for their people in 100 years?
Where are the kakavata, the cake and the salusalus? They must be saving money seeing that they are hosting the lovefest at the GPH.
They all look sooooo good. The champions of Fijian culture and tradition and their people. They look sooo proud that it is embarrassing.
What is incredible is they are totally oblivious and unaware that they look stupid.
I can’t even begin to decipher the empty-headedness of this group of people. What less can we expect from a bunch of uneducated old men sitting in that conference just because of a randomness of nature that they were born in a particular household. Its like they just throw random shit in the air to make sure Fijians keep fighting and hating each other.
All this while they sit on the high seats and enjoy the fruits of others labour. This chiefly system is the root cause of all problems for the itaukei and the day they learn this, they will liberate an entire race.
The rate at which GCC is hosting luxury parties for chiefs soon it will be time to lease land back to Indian or Chinese farmers as all TLTB money will run out.
Funny that they decide to shut the media out as if they were discussing national secrets.
Last month at the GPH, the Home Affairs Ministry conducted a workshop on national security & defence to which the media was invited.
I think these grumpy old men under Viliame Seruvakula have over estimated the importance of their meeting. They are overcome with their own self importance.
The separation of powers have been shredded. There exists nothing to keep the village idiots in line. The opposition too seems like a neutered shell of what it should resemble.
And the guardians of our constitution act like they’ve sworn allegiance to uphold the sentiments of an unelected body made up of thieves, charlatans and a paedophile.
We truly are fvč̣ƙ3ḍ !
“History repeats itself first as tragedy then as farce” That quote from Karl Marx exactly describes what’s going on in the Rabuka/Naiqama constituted Council of Chiefs.
30-years ago while a Lt Colonel in the RFMF, Viliame Seruvakula was speaking to the media about the biggest threat to peace and good order being “ethno nationalists,”
Fast forward to today he is Chairman of a Council of fuddy duddies calling for exactly what he saw as the biggest threat to Fiji’s statehood 40-years prior.
What the hell is going on in your mind, Viliame, and what happened to your principles? Surely at least you can remain consistent?
The country deserves an explanation from you, otherwise, resign, return your reservist uniform and go back to your village.
In 2023, only months after assuming power, this Coalition Government adopted the UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples; isn’t that enough? Doesn’t that give you ethno nationalists comfort enough?
Taukei are in the majority now. If you remain united taukei will rule Fiji in perpetuity. So what are you old farts harping on about?
I support GD’s call, please be honest with the country, come out and release the 33 provisions of the 2013 Constitution that discriminate against the taukei.
What we are witnessing is just another coup, by the majority against the minority. It’s tyrany of the majority.
Fiji is slowly and surely marching towards a pariah ethno-nationalist state.
2-faced unprincipled men like Viliame Seruvakula are leading the way.
Show Fiji a chief who is self sustainable, moral and successful and we’ll start trusting these old war horses.
If they can’t ..then we’re all doomed.
At least Bainimara was right in directing them to the mango trees.
Show Fiji a chief who is self sustainable, moral, and finacially successful and we’ll start trusting these old useless donkeys.
With that part fixed, for the benefit of the shrinking tax-payer base, and for plain transparency, do tell the rest of us:
– cost of GPH venue
– cost of meals
– cost of return travel expenses
– cost of accommodations
– cost of entertainment (kava, hooch, traditional ceremonies, et al)
– cost of events hosted at State House (sevusevu, meals, tea/pastries -kekes for cekes, etc
– cost of hosting other invited guests – govt monsters, er, ministers, thieves, criminals- pardoned and the not ever prosecuted, charlatans, the lost tribe, talatalas with piyalas, the military and military props, etc.)
– kindly outline the 33 clauses/reasons/areas of the 2013 constitution thats contentious and/or offensive, why and how so?
– does the 33 include removal of immunity clauses currently protecting criminals from prosecution?
– Please explain where/what/when any public onsultations were held to identify the 33?
– if no public consultations were held, are we going to have the 33 changes abhorently “shoved down our throats?”
-if not, when and how will 33, or any changes be put to a referendum as the constitution calls for, through parliament and the public.
The biggest tragedy in this charade is the silence from all various NGOs, civil society, Law Society, the AG’s office, the weeping people, the entire diaspora of freedumb fighters, religious, media, NFP, sideline political parties, academics, unionists’ loud mouths, and, oh sh1t, the military,
Sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Jeez…what a list!
You must be a really pissed off vulagi who voted for Biman and got nothing in return.
Welcome to the club
Ha ha. Baimaan submitted these questions (in his dreams) before he went to beg more funds at COP, you know, for climate mitigation and parliamentary salaries. Oh, and to rebuild the burnt structure at Nasese.
Never was, never will be NFP voter. Ha. Ha.
And has the Fiji Airways freebie been paid? There were chiefs, elites and some who boarded that flight to Israel. The ordinary will never be able to fly to Vanua Levu or vice versa with the current airfare. But still they will support these corrupt people.
The chiefs need someone or something to blame, whether it be the Indo-Fijians, or the Constitution, or the last government. That is how it has always been. If not then the people will start pointing the finger at them, for what have they done for Fiji but create instability by supporting and participating in coups (including the 2000 coup where one of their own, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, was removed as President), and living off the sweat of their people and the vulagis?
The UK (from where the construct of our chiefly system was largely modelled) is rapidly phasing out the role of hereditary peers in the running of the country, notably the House of Lords. There is a reason for that. Birthright leadership is a outdated concept that allows mediocrity and feudalism to prosper at the expense of the people.
But guess what they will use to perpetuate this archaic and cancerous system of governance? Religion. Specifically, fundamentalist Christianity. Birth right leadership is divine is the narrative. Who but God controls who is born into a chiefly family? Who are we mere mortals to question this divine intervention? And like sheep, the majority will follow, and bow.
I remember a SDL stalwart once made a brazen claim on national tv that “Chiefs are from God”
What a joke.
But which god controlled the birth of which chiefly family? Was it Degei? Dakuwaqa? Moro? Or the Christian God that Fijians have only started believing for the past 200 or so years.
The GCC is unrepresentative of the Fijian people and an unelected body of predominately old men tried to justify their existence in the 21st Century.
Meeting at GPH at some no doubt astronomical cost, when the poverty level, particularly among the iTaukei, is over 50% is obscene. It shows just out of touch these people are!
The question by GD on what are the 33 and how do they only affect the iTaukei is perfectly correct. That coupled with the exclusion of the media speaks volumes of their lack of transparency.
The former PM was right, you have no relevance in the modern Fiji, go sit under a mango tree and stop robbing the people you say you represent, you do not!
GD unfortunately you are wrong that the public consultations that were held throughout Fiji (and they were the largest and most extensive public consultations ever held in Fiji before the implementation of any of our constitutions) simply involved Aiyaz telling the public about what was in it. I remember going to one of them and there were lots of discussions and suggestions from the public. Some very good and come to think of it some eventually appeared in our constitution. So pls don’t change the story.
Some of us know for a fact that after the first draft was put out changes were made during and after feedback from the consultations.
Also remember that as it has been said previously a number of significant parts of the 2013 Constitution came from the Yash Ghai draft. Yash Ghai and his team also had consultations but they were driven mainly by people like Shamima Ali.
We have respect for you so please don’t pertuptuate some lies like the council of thieves.
Sorry, I was there and I don’t recall the account you are giving. Precisely what suggestions that arose from the consultations were incorporated in the final draft?
It is all very well to call me a liar but I was at ASK’s side during this entire process. And it was a “consultation” to inform the public of what the Constitution contained, not to ask for suggestions.
If you remember, the Ghai draft was rejected and a copy was burnt in front of him.
I was at the first Public Consultation held at the Civic Hall Suva.
Was number 3 to present and respectfully asked if I mind giving way to Rt Osea Gavidi who was in a wheel chair.
I made a case for Guardian Councils in every District of Fiji with elected or nominated members from the Community.
Ghai Commission gave me Section 121 of the Constitution – Transparency and Accountability Commission.
Neither ASK or GD in sight.
Parliament has still to make law to give this Commission life.
Despite every Parliamentarian elected to Parliament and sworn in to protect and uphold the Constitution, they have done nothing.
I presented at the last sitting of the Ghai Commission.
Neither ASK or GD in sight.
I asked for a one party State, failing this a Presidential system similar to the US.
Ghai Commission gave me a Constitutional Assembly.
ASK and VB got rid of the Constitutional Assembly but not Section 121 – Transparency and Accountability Commission.
7,000 submissions oral and written.
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces took a document fully formed and amended it to ASK and VB’s pleasure.
There is no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Sorry, Ian, but why should I have been there? To witness your brilliance? Funnily enough, I must have had other things to do.
The substantive question remains. What are the 33 clauses that supposedly adversely affect the iTaukei? And is one of them the common and equal citizenry?
Chiefs and those who like to manipulate them, love to talk in high noble values but in reality they transact their daily lives by base instincts – kocokoco(greed), (via via levu (sense of entitlement), lasa ituba (lust) and kila vata (corruption).
The call by the turaga Tui Cakau to the chiefs to lead by example, is a joke when you consider his record: he is not the example chiefs should follow and also when you consider the record of this seated in the picture.
The late Tui Vitogo last year when asked to comment about the charging of Ba Holdings CEO, Isimeli Bose for corruption shrugged off the question saying corruption was part and parcel of doing business. (Wonder whatever happened to that case?)
The Tui Nadi is another good example. Why is he sitting in the front seat when he is not even confirmed in the position, with a Court Case outstanding against him from a Narewa chief contesting the title.
These chiefs are only in it for the money. They didn’t protest against the 2013 Constitution when Bai and Kai enacted it. In fact most of them went along with it.
So why the urgency now? This is just a money-faced plot by greedy individuals wanting more of the public pie for themselves, without having to exert one ounce of energy.
Viliame Seruvakula is OK but naive, he doesn’t see how he is being used. Those who put him in that position will drop him when they can’t get what they want from him.
I think he should be replaced by the Chairman of the Associated Banks in Fiji, as he represents what is the main motivation for these jokers — money.
Someone or something has to be blamed for the (self inflicted) situation of the indigenous complainers (but noted that not all i-taukei are complaining). So lets blame the constitution – because we don’t like the persons in govt and the legislators who brought about the 2013 constitution. That’s enough reason. We have to blame something. Its usually the foreign referees, the northern hemisphere rugby unions, the overseas investors – and the 2013 constitution has to be added to that list. Once the constitution is changed we will then move on to find some other document to blame. Maybe some UN resolution could be blamed. After that we will find something else – the list is endless.
Bottom line is, the Con-job constitution hoisted on Fijians by two criminals will be burned. Nothing Bainimarama or Kaiyum did will stand the test of time as they were not conceived with national interest of Fiji in mind, only their political survival.
Now that the chess pieces are in place, we look forward to the new constitution where all will have the opportunity to contribute, considers economic reality and the importance of the the iTaukei.
All things iTaukei or the snake will bite.
Don’t threaten us, you f**king moron. Readers, this person is iTaukei masquerading as an Indo-Fijian. Any more of this intimidation and you will be banned from these columns.
An ignorant thug.
It is indeed a sad state of affairs for our beloved country. Just when we thought that the racist skeletons of Rabuka and the ethnic nationalists had been laid to rest, they have been resurrected. And when the wasted space, and time GCC are meeting in secret, it does not, and will never end well for both the country and the vulagis. This will be economically disastrous for Fiji. Isa ko Viti. 😞🥲
Dj itaukei bhai please soli for your great council of thieves meetings , stop looting from government coffers as it includes taxes from the Indian common citizen and the decisions that they make aren’t for the greater good and do not benefit all Fijians. It’s a party for these free loaders.
I think the GCC’s main complaint is that they all have small brains and they do not know what to do to fix it. The solution to these sorts of problems is to get rid of it – the GCC, I mean – problem solved. There was no problem for the last 16 odd years since they were gotten rid of. This problem has reared its head only in the last two years.
Think outside the box, people.
The chiefs that make up the GCC are simply freeloaders who are only there to serve themselves at the expense of the minority one third of the tax paying Fiji population, without contributing anything significant to the nation in return.
If I was the prime minister or the president of Fiji then I would have imposed death penalty on every chief that exists in Fiji. The GCC wants a constitution that is always in favor of Native Fijians, benefits Native Fijians in every way, a constitution where no citizen of Fiji is equal to or has the same rights as Native Fijians, a constitution that pardons Native Fijians if they are guilty of committing crimes, and a constitution where Native Fijians are to be paramount.
Honestly, exactly who and what are the chiefs in Fiji? They are nothing but lowlife in this world. The world wouldn’t even be affected if they are gone. Their pointless existence is holding the world back. They’re dead weight to everyone in the world. The chiefs simply want the minorities of Fiji to work their butts off and hand over the rewards of their hard work to Native Fijians, while at the same time, the Native Fijians just do nothing but sit and enjoy.
I have no respect for the chiefs and GCC, and never will. Get rid of the Great Council of Thieves and the chiefs. I’d like to take on the president of Fiji in an MMA match. It should be easy to deal with such an unwanted piece of trash. After all, at his age, he isn’t even fit to be in an MMA ring. The same goes for Sitiveni.
Rather then change the laws why dont you change the mindset. Changing some laws won’t make the lives of itaukei better than what it was before.
Change your mindset. How to save, how to invest, etc. Tbh the progress of the itaukei is held back and cultural and traditional obligations.
The meeting in Suva won’t achieve anything expect for a huge food and drinks bill. The common itaukei is still struggling for three meals a day.
The Coalition government has consistently expressed a desire to amend the 2013 Constitution, but without clarifying the specific changes they propose.
Recently, they have reinstated the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), despite it holding no constitutional place-a position that makes sense as the GCC exclusively represents the i-Taukei community, not all citizens.
The GCC has also called for constitutional changes yet has offered no details on what these changes would entail. They assert that the 2013 Constitution is the source of i-Taukei problems and challenges, without explaining the nature of these issues or how the constitution has allegedly disadvantaged the i-Taukei people.
The Coalition and GCC appear to be misleading the iTaukei community by attributing grievances to the Constitution without providing a substantive basis.
One of the core strengths of the 2013 Constitution is its emphasis on common and equal citizenry, a unified national identity, and a secular state. Moreover, it robustly protects the land rights of i-Taukei. This raises the question: What specifically does the Coalition and GCC wish to change? They need to be upfront and transparent about their intentions.
If the Coalition and GCC are targeting the principles of equal citizenship, common identity, and secularism, it is critical to consider how such changes would impact the protection of Indo-Fijians and other minorities. Why should any one race or religion be placed above others?
The NFP leader Biman Prasad bears responsibility for emboldening Rabuka’s push for constitutional changes. If ever amendments are made that compromise common identity, equal citizenry, or secularism, Biman Prasad must be held responsible for misleading and betraying the Indo-Fijian community. His support for Rabuka, perceived as self- serving, demonstrates a concerning lack of support or voice for Indo-Fijian rights and interests.
Gahhhhh Daniel Richard’s, your comments are very clearly written by AI and it’s really starting to grate my nerves. We all read Graham’s posts, we don’t need you to comment a summary of what we’ve already been reading. Who are you and what are you trying to prove? It doesn’t make you look smarter than every other person leaving comments.
And now the Tui Namosi has gone and stated that anyone found with drugs in his village will be expelled. Similar statements were issued by a chief at Kalabu. So this is how it’s going to be in future. Expel your own people instead if getting to the bottom of the problem.
And where are these people going to go. Go to cities and towns and become a nuisance, get more addicted and loose their lives, kill and rob. Why can’t the chiefs sort out these problems for their people instead of burdening and then blaming others for poverty and drugs, to name a few ills that they are going through. Just an easy way out. No chief should be allowed to disown their own.
They cannot blame high teenage pregnancy in the village on the Constitution.
They cannot blame their abuse of women and girls on the Constitution.
They cannot blame their infidelity on the Constitution.
They cannot blame their poverty on the Constitution.
They cannot blame their fleecing off the poor in the village on the Constitution.
They cannot blame their alcohol and kava misuse on the Constitution.
They cannot blame the poor leadership they have in their chiefs on the Constitution.
They all need a mirror each this Christmas. Calling Santa now to drop them some brains while he is making the rounds. 🎅🛷
The Kana Loto lot.
The ones in the village can starve.
They can have rice and tea and be fine.
Because the Chiefs have to be served, pampered, cared for.
So wrong at many levels.
GD, what the hell’s wrong with the Fiji media? The questions you pose are not only basic, but bleeding obvious! It’s not government, it’s the docile, stupid, idiotic, dumb Fiji media that’s a threat to media freedom. What a shit show the Fiji media is – all emotion and tears but no substance. A national disgrace if they can’t ask basic questions. Too much madarai and Maggie noodles perhaps?
1/ What are the “33 clauses” of the 2013 Constitution that disadvantage the iTaukei?
2/ Why do they disadvantage the iTaukei?
3/ What are the precise changes the GCC wants to these clauses?
4/ Do they include the common and equal citizenry, the common identity and the secular state?
Seruvakula et al. are finger pointing the 2013 Constitution as the root cause of problems the iTaukei are now facing. What a load of bs! What about the 50% university scholarships during the 70s, 80s and 90s reserved exclusively by the government for Fijian or iTaukei students? Usually these went to those with Adi and Ratu names, children of Ministers, senior civil servants , Kila vata etc. Less than half of them would study overseas and pass, while the majority failed, some stayed on in those countries and some returned home. Whereas the Indian, Others or Vulagi awardees would successfully complete their studies, served their bonds in Fiji before migrating. This group were more honest and committed. Hence, the root cause is not just the 2013 Constitution but many other longstanding issues. So even if the 33 clauses are addressed as championed by the GCC Chair, these problems will continue to persist. Until and unless the Council is membered and the government is led by those who are trustworthy, self-sustainable, moral and successful as a reader pointed out earlier. In other words, having a solid and positive character, selfless, country and not family first. If attained, this will the Chair’s real legacy…. ia sa bau wadrega dina (near impossible though)!
I am unhappy that I didn’t get consulted about the decision by Rabuka to remove Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 2 as Fiji’s Head of State.
Were the Great Council of Chiefs consulted?
Did they agree with Rabuka’s action?