Bulitavu: Opposition Leadership Hindering Constitutional Talks

Opposition infighting is derailing meaningful negotiations on constitutional amendments, according to FijiFirst MP Mosese Bulitavu, who has criticized the Leader of the Opposition for failing to assert control over his caucus.

In a social media statement, Bulitavu labeled the ongoing dialogue on constitutional reform as “irrelevant and a waste of time,” blaming internal divisions within the opposition for repeated breakdowns in negotiations.

“The biggest problem with these negotiations with the Leader of the Opposition and his team is they agree on the table, and when they return to their caucus, they are overturned,” Bulitavu said.

He accused FijiFirst MP Faiyaz Koya of exerting control over the opposition leader, alleging that Koya takes directives from former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

“That is why the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica is right in labeling him as a weak leader,” Bulitavu added.

He pointed to past negotiations—such as discussions over the Leader of the Opposition’s role in Fiji’s UN General Assembly delegation, the Truth and Reconciliation process, the Speaker’s nomination last November, and the ongoing Constitution review—as instances where agreements were later overturned by the opposition caucus.

Bulitavu further revealed that prior to last week’s debate on the Constitution Amendment Bill, Opposition MP Jone Usamate had informed government members that the opposition would vote against it.

However, he acknowledged that the government had agreed to two of the opposition’s requests: allowing all opposition MPs to speak on the bill and granting them two seats on the Special Committee of Parliament tasked with public consultations.