PA’s 100day plan
main features of the 2013 Constitution like equal citizenry, common national identity and secular state, would remain or go.
In the past, Mr Rabuka had spoken out against the Constitution claiming it was forced on the people. On the same vein, he gave a glowing tribute to the 1997 Constitution, which he and then National Federation Party leader, Jai Ram Reddy, endorsed.
That Constitution allowed for a multi-party Government, but it had its drawbacks as Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry, in the Opposition, struggled to work with then Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his Soqosoqo ni Lewenivanua (SDL) Cabinet. It also allowed for race-based election.
It is not known whether reverting to the 1997 Constitution is part of Mr Rabuka’s plan. But what is well-known is that his Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT) Government lost the 1999 election to Mr Chaudhry’s FLP.
The NFP was decimated winning no seat for the first time.
The pioneers of the NFP had fought for equal citizenry and common identity, which are enshrined in the 2013 Constitution.
It would be surprising and unlikely for the current NFP leadership to support any move to remove those provisions.
Mr Rabuka hailed the partnership agreement with NFP to fight this Election and said they would coalesce after the poll to form a new Government despite the 1999 debacle which the partners had dismissed.
“The first step is to get a majority and formalise a coalition government, without partners or the New Federation Party,” he said.
“From day one, hard and demanding work starts. We will plan our mission this way to restore decency, honour, equity and justice to the people of Fiji by restoring and rebuilding democratic parliamentary government under the rule of law.”
He said under their coalition Government, they would allow persons on the Immigration blacklist, like University of the South Pacific Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, to visit Fiji.
“We will also honour this Government’s debt to the University of the South Pacific as soon as we can. We will also make sure that Dr Padma Lal, widow of the late and famed historian, Professor Brij Lal, will be able to bring the ashes of her late husband back to their home in Tabia near Labasa,” he said.
Other prominent features of the manifesto include the following:
Great Council of Chiefs
The PA will bring back the Great Council of Chiefs, but the manifesto is silent on the equal distribution of lease money among iTaukei communal landowners. When the GCC was operating, the lion’s share went to the chiefs. Mr Rabuka had previously supported that old system.
Indigenous interests
The PA’s support for the GCC is based on its advocacy of policies to embrace the aspirations of the iTaukei community. It uses the ILOC 169 under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
The party says: “While the 1997 Constitution was hailed as progressive and ground-breaking its guarantee of human rights in line with international human rights norms, the 2013 Constitution has an impressive list of rights, but dotted with limitations that render them non-compliance with international human rights laws.
“The People’s Alliance believes that the protection and promotion of individual and group rights will facilitate the fullest expression and manifestation of the potential aspirations of our citizens.”
It’s the same thing that SODELPA has been talking about since 2014. It has been taken to The PA by former SODELPA members.
FijiFirst scrutiny
Mr Rabuka said the national assembly would complement the specialist review of the Constitution and legal reform, economy, defence and national security and a forensic examination of the current Fijian Government’s spending term of 16 years.
“We will be revealing personal emoluments of certain office bearers,” Mr Rabuka said.
“We will look for any questionable payments to donors to the FijiFirst party. The Government’s influence on FNPF is a long-standing concern.
“We will inquire into this and look closely at the overall strength of the fund.”
Depending on the legal feasibility, he said the establishment of an independent constitution commission to look at drafting a new constitution would be considered.
“Various contentious laws passed in 2014 will also be scrutinised to determine whether they should be repealed or amended. Our review of the economy will inevitably involve close study of the international situation, including the impact of climate change, the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and the global implications of Russia’s war against Ukraine,” he said.
Resurrecting the sugar industry is a priority, adding that there will be more focus on that as well as non-sugar agriculture.
In the first 100 days
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) will be phased out and incorporated into existing relevant agencies. FICAC has been involved in the prosecution of Opposition members, including Mr Rabuka.
He has announced that there would be a mini budget to prepare elections for the local government. Now, local councils are run by administrators.
There will also be a Truth Reconciliation Commission to heal the pain and scars of 1987, 2000 and 2006 events.
All these will be done in the first 100 days of The PA Government coming to power.
Mr Rabuka said the manifesto would be debated and discussed, with the aim of gathering further ideas by improving policies and taking on new proposals.
“In other words, our manifesto is not set in concrete.
“It is a work in progress; we will encourage the citizenry to come forward with their thoughts for raising up Fiji from where it is at the moment,” he said.
“Results of the deliberations will be distributed widely among the people to give them a sense of ownership. We want them to understand that those in government are not their masters, but their servants.”