Fiji’s Constitution Review Commission says its job is to review the 2013 Constitution—removing, amending, or adjusting provisions—while public consultations run across islands from May to July.
Fiji’s Constitution Review Commission has moved to cool public concerns after the chair said the team is not drafting a new Constitution.
Sevuloni Ratumaiyale Valenitabua, speaking to the media this morning, said the Commission’s mandate is specifically to review the 2013 Constitution and decide which parts should be removed, amended, or changed only slightly.
Valenitabua said the Commission has a Public Awareness and Civic Education (PACE) team already working in communities, explaining what the review involves and why the process matters for ordinary citizens.. The message from the Commission is that consultations are not meant to be a distant policy exercise, but a structured effort to gather views from across Fiji.
From May 4 to July 2, the Commission will hold public consultations around the country. Valenitabua also acknowledged that media coverage has helped keep the public informed as questions have surfaced about what exactly the Commission is doing.
A key focus of the chair’s remarks was the legality of the Commission’s operations. Valenitabua said the legal basis for the work is that Cabinet decided to amend the Constitution, and that the President appointed the Commission under Section 2 of the Commissioners of Enquiry Act.
He stressed that the process was not improvised or carried out without safeguards.. For many people, constitutional processes are sensitive because they can reshape rights, governance arrangements, and the everyday relationship between citizens and the state.. When uncertainty or speculation spreads, even a small change in public messaging can influence trust in the review.
The Commission has also outlined a detailed schedule for consultations. Two teams will begin consultations next month, with Team 1 visiting parts of Lau and Lomaiviti from May 4 to May 15, and Team 2 moving through Beqa, Vatulele, Ovalau, and Kadavu from May 4 to May 13.
From May 19 to May 27, consultations will be held in Cakaudrove. Then, from June 1 to June 10, the Commission will be in Namosi, Serua, Nadroga, Ba, and Ra. In mid-June, the schedule continues with Tailevu from June 15 to June 22, followed by the greater Suva area from June 23 to June 27.
Consultations will conclude on July 1 and July 2 in Rotuma.. With the timeline extending across multiple provinces and islands, the Commission’s approach appears designed to capture perspectives that may otherwise be missed—especially from communities where access to central decision-making can be limited.
The Commission’s insistence that it is not drafting a new Constitution may also be an attempt to draw a clearer line between “review” and “replacement.” The distinction matters for public expectations: people who feared sweeping constitutional change may now see the process as more targeted—focused on revising specific provisions rather than starting over.
For citizens, the practical impact will likely be felt through the consultations themselves: whether submissions are heard, how concerns are recorded, and how decisions are justified once recommendations move forward.. As the process rolls into its community phase, Misryoum expects the Commission’s ability to explain its mandate—along with the schedule and legal framework—to remain central to public confidence.