Inia Seruiratu and MPs Were Offered Bribes

Former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says that members of parliament were offered inducements—what he describes as bribes—to support Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s proposed constitutional amendment.

"Indeed, as revealed by some MPs including Inia Seruiratu, MPs were offered inducements, some would call it bribes, to vote with the government’s amendment proposal," said Sayed-khaiyum.

According to Sayed-Khaiyum, the amendment aimed to lower the threshold for changing the Constitution, reducing the number of MPs required from 41 (three-quarters) to 36 (two-thirds) while also removing the requirement for a public referendum.

He argued that such a move would allow constitutional changes to be made at the whim of a small group of MPs, rather than requiring broad national consensus.

Sayed-Khaiyum emphasised that Fiji’s current system ensures that any constitutional amendment must not only pass through Parliament with a strong majority but also be approved by the people in a referendum.

He warned that lowering these requirements could leave the Constitution vulnerable to manipulation by MPs who, he claimed, were already being incentivised to shift their loyalties.

Citing statements from opposition MP Inia Seruiratu, Sayed-Khaiyum alleged that MPs were approached with offers to support the government’s amendment proposal.

"So, given this calibre of parliamentary representation, can we seriously, as proposed by Sitiveni Rabuka, expect that the right thing will be done by MPs, who will be solely responsible for the amendments to the constitution? Of course not," Sayed-khaiyum said.