Dorsami Naidu Calls for Transparent Constitutional Amendments

Prominent lawyer and politician Dorsami Naidu has raised concerns over the process of amending Fiji’s 2013 Constitution, calling for transparency and adherence to legal procedures.

In a recent social media post, Naidu emphasized that any constitutional changes must follow the guidelines outlined in the Constitution itself and should not be unilaterally altered by the Executive.

“If one is confident in the change they propose, they should be able to sell it to the overwhelming majority,” Naidu stated. He criticized what he described as secrecy surrounding proposed amendments, urging leaders to clearly outline the changes they seek and engage in public discussions.

Naidu highlighted specific issues within the current system, including the requirement of 5,000 signatures for political party formation, which he labeled “undemocratic and unjust.”

He also called for reforms to ensure a fairer and more transparent voting system.

Additionally, Naidu advocated for strengthening the Constitutional Court, proposing a seven-member bench composed of judges with expertise in constitutional law to handle challenges that may arise from amendments.