As a civil society organisation, TI Fiji also made their own recommendations on the new constitution at a consultation at Suva Civic Centre on 12 September. The Chapter’s Chairman, Mr. Apisalome Tudreu, called for a constitution that commits the country to transparency and accountability to ensure that the legislature, judiciary, law enforcement agencies and businesses can remain effective and independent. The introduction of a code of conduct and an integrity pledge for Member of Parliament as well as transparency in political financing should be products of this commitment.

PM Bainimarama said the constitution will be based on the Charter’s values of a common and equal citizenry, a secular state, the removal of systematic corruption, an independent judiciary, elimination of discrimination, good and transparent governance, social justice, elimination of ethnic voting, proportional representation and the voting age of 18.

here will be no government interference in the public consultations, the chairman of the country’s constitutional commission, Professor Yash Ghai, said.

However doubts remain if the consultation process works properly and whether the constitution will be there to stay.

Concerns have been raised that people’s participation will be hampered by remaining restrictions on public gatherings and the media.

Because of a history of successive coups or a ‘culture of coups’people fear that their submissions might be for nothing if a new government comes along in the near future and establishes a new constitution.

In January 2013, the commission plans to submit a draft of the new constitution to a Constituent Assembly. It will be finalised before the country’s national elections scheduled for 2014.