2 Mar 2012

Fiji's Beddoes not suprised at missed deadline

3:25 pm on 2 March 2012

Fiji's former opposition leader says he's not surprised the first deadline of the constitutional consultation process has been missed, but nor is he worried.

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.

Mick Beddoes says he believes changes are being made.

"They're small steps, but I consider them to be positive. So I am encouraged by that. And I also know that there is a move to start the consultative, or the constitutional process, and if that is going to be delayed a little, I'm not unnecessarily concerned about it."

Mick Beddoes.