The Constitution will be changed before the upcoming elections, acting Justice Minister Siromi Turaga says.
Mr Turaga said the review of the Constitution was a key reason the Government came into power.
“It’s one of the key reasons we came into power — because of the Constitution,” he said.
He made the comment when asked whether the Government would still be able to fulfil its promise of changing the Constitution months away from the next election.
“We have to deliver. If we don’t deliver, the people will be upset. I can assure you it will be delivered.”
Apart from reviewing the Constitution, he said the Government was also amending referendum laws and electoral legislation.
He said there would be consultations before any amendments were made.
“This is an opportune time to clarify matters with the people.”
Mr Turaga said questions had been raised with him regarding the constitutional review during his visits to villages in Bua.
“Past attorney-generals didn’t come to this level, so it is important to communicate with people and address misinformation,” he said.
He said the public needed to be involved in the consultation process to ensure their voices were heard.
He has also urged people to speak up in the right forums.
“They need to present their views individually, as members of their village, district, tikina, or province,” he said.
Mr Turaga said that over the past three years he had observed people often speaking at the wrong forums.
Facts Only
Actors: Siromi Turaga, Government
Events: Review of Constitution, Amendments to referendum laws and electoral legislation, Consultations planned
Timeline: Unspecified (before upcoming elections)
Locations: Bua (villages)
Executive Summary
Full Take
Analyzing this article from the perspective of an A.R.C. Watchline Operator, we can employ a skeptical mode to dissect the narrative.
STEELMAN: The Acting Justice Minister has stated that changes to the Constitution will occur before upcoming elections, and the Government is working on amending related laws with public consultations planned.
PATTERN SCAN: No specific manipulation patterns are detected in this article. However, it's essential for readers to remain vigilant as political debates around constitutional changes can potentially be subject to misinformation or selective framing.
ROOT CAUSE: The core driver of this narrative is the government's mandate to review the Constitution, which they believe was a key factor in their election victory.
IMPLICATIONS: A constitutional change before elections may impact the political landscape, potentially influencing voter behavior and party dynamics. It also raises questions about transparency, accountability, and the democratic process during the consultation phase.
BRIDGE QUESTIONS: How will the government's proposed changes to the Constitution affect various stakeholders, including citizens, political parties, and interest groups? What role does public participation play in shaping a fair and inclusive constitutional review process?