August 23, 2013

Parties’ no-show a pity - AG

Publish date/time: 23/08/2013 [08:13]

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said it is a pity that none of the political parties attended the constitution briefing sessions held for the registered parties.

Sayed-Khaiyum said the parties should look at the constitution without personalising issues.

However, the United Front for a Democratic Fiji which includes the Fiji Labour Party, Social Democratic and Liberal Party and National Federation Party has rejected the new constitution and did not attend the Attorney General’s constitution briefing.

According to United Front’s spokesperson Mick Beddoes, they believed that the briefing will be nothing more than a lecture by the Attorney General on the vernacular with no opportunity for political parties and other interest groups or the people of Fiji to discuss and debate the document before it is imposed.

Beddoes said they reject the new constitution even before looking at it.

Beddoes said the United Front leaders are meeting this week to complete their own roadmap to democracy which will be published. 

The People’s Democratic Party also did not attend the briefing. 

When contacted, spokesperson Nirmal Singh said he thinks no one was available from the party to attend. 

Singh said the party will meet today and then comment on the constitution.

Story by: Vijay Narayan & Rusiate Baleilevuka

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