1 Mar 2012

Fiji regime misses own deadline on constitution consultation

12:37 pm on 1 March 2012

Fji's military regime has missed a deadline for the beginning of consultations on a new constitution.

The interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, was due to announce details of the consultation in the fourth week of February.

An announcement was delayed because of flooding in January, but Commodore Bainimarama told diplomats last month that consultation would start by the end of February.

The information ministry said he would provide details about the timeframe and methodology of the consultation process.

The CEO of the Citizens Constitutional Forum, the Reverend Akuila Yabaki, says it is disappointing the deadline has been missed.

"If there's a vacuum, then it gives us an opportunity to make people aware, that their contributions are vital, and doing some civic education in preparation for it. But this extensive programme should also continue."

Reverend Akuila Yabaki.

Repeated requests for information about the process put to the Ministry of Information's Permanent Secretary, Sharon Smith Johns, have gone unanswered.