Charter seeks Fiji poll system reforms

August 06, 2008 03:14:58 PM

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The proposed Peoples Charter maintains that a reform of the electoral system is one of the ways to ensure sustainable democracy and good and just governance in Fiji.

The document, which was released in draft form this afternoon after months of consultation, wants to abolish the communal representation system provided for under the Constitution and the Electoral Act 1998, and replace this with the use of a common roll system for all future elections.

It wants to establish a fair system of voting so that all the interests and wishes of the people of Fiji can be represented in the Parliament as expressed through free, fair and honest elections and for this adopt an Open List Proportional Representation (PR) Electoral and Voting System.

The draft Charter proposed to incorporate specific antidiscrimination measures into Fiji’s electoral laws to ensure no person is discriminated against by political parties on the grounds of race,
religion, gender or circumstance.

It also rings the death knell for the multi-party government clause, saying it wants to remove the mandatory power sharing arrangement as provided for under the current Constitution.

As well, it proposes lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 years of age, maintains compulsory registration and calls for the abolition compulsory voting.

The Charter wants the electoral system removed from the Constitution and enacted as law so that it may be amended and reformed from time to time according to the will of the people.

However, it suggests that the fundamental recommendations of non-ethnic voting, equal franchise and Proportional Representation be enshrined in the Constitution.

It says Fiji’s electoral system is racially discriminatory and undemocratic.

It adds that the United Nations Convention on Discrimination and the Right to
Universal and Equal Suffrage requires each individual vote to be equal in value.

The current communal system of representation entrenches inequalities, by not providing one value for one vote, has contributed to the “coup culture”, and the consequent ethnic-based
politics that has impeded our national development.

The draft Charter says it commits the country to a free and fair electoral process, that promotes one people, one nation and one identity.

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