Tuisawau Slams Daniel Fatiaki

Public Works Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau has slammed Electoral Law Reform Commission chairman Daniel Fatiaki, saying he cannot rule out ethnic-based voting in Fiji.

Tuisawau said Fatiaki’s comments were premature and outside the scope of his role. He reminded the public that any decision on the voting system must come from the people and be done through proper constitutional processes.

“The commission is meant to listen to public views, not to decide what should happen,” Tuisawau said. “Only a constitutional review or the Supreme Court can make that call.”

He added that the government has endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which supports indigenous groups having representation in ways they choose.

Tuisawau said this would be considered in discussions about the voting system, and urged the commission to stay within its mandate.