ELECTORAL REFORM A MUST - NCBBF

The National Council for Building a Better Fiji [NCBBF] has resolved to take to the people of Fiji proposals to change Fiji’s electoral voting system.

 In a Communiqué released after its NCBBF meeting today (24 June, 2008), the NCBBF will now undertake extensive nation wide consultations on why changes to Fiji’s electoral system are necessary before the general election and to recommend to the People of Fiji the replacement, the current Alternative Vote (AV) electoral by a system based on proportional representation and providing for the Open List voting system. The NCBBF also proposed the adoption, in all future elections, of the common roll system as a substitute for the ethnicity-based communal system.

The NCBBF believes:

- Fiji’s current electoral system is undemocratic in that it does not accurately reflect the will of the people of Fiji and violates United Nations Conventions by not providing for one vote to have one value;

-That it fails to adequately address representation for certain groups like women and small minorities;

-That Communal representation and voting has contributed to ethnic division and entrenched ethnicity based politics, which has been detrimental to our national development; and

-That the electoral system is too complex and is a hindrance to the conduct of a free and fair poll.

Whilst the NCBBF has agreed to take the proposed NCBBF ER package back to the people for their study and endorsement, it has also proposed the new electoral system be implemented before the conduct of the next general elections.

Other significant resolutions made by the NCBBF include; the incorporation of specific anti-discrimination laws into the Electoral Act to strengthen our resolve to establish a system based on equality; the voting age be reduced to 18 years; the mandatory power-sharing provision in the Constitution be repealed; and compulsory voting be abolished.

In making these landmark and historical recommendations, the NCBBF affirms that the time has come for the leaders of this country to move the country forward in a direction that will ensure sustained democracy through equality for its entire citizen.  “National unity and development must be promoted and ethnic division and race-based electoral systems and politics must become history” were the general sentiments echoed by members of the NCBBF.

The NCBBF based its decisions from the various reports received and discussed by its Working Group and National Task Team, and also from the public submissions. Majority of people who made submissions to the NCBBF called for a review of the electoral system and the introduction and implementation of a fairer, simpler and people-friendly system.

The NCBBF emphasized that the proposed changes in the ER package are intended for the good of Fiji and is not intended to marginalize any race, ethnic or minority group.  The proposed Electoral system is also not intended to reduce Fijian representation.  In fact it is expected Indigenous Fijian representation in parliament under the proposed changes will increase.   The reasoning that the Communal electoral system is needed to protect Fijian interests and political rights is no longer justified.  Indigenous Fijian interests are well protected under the Constitution.

The NCBBF is of the firm view that change is long overdue and that Fiji urgently needs a new electoral system – based on equal suffrage, that is one person, one vote, equal value.

The NCBBF received an updated report from its Secretariat, TASS, on the Peoples Charter-related public awareness and consultation activities to-date.  The meeting noted that as at June 2008, 200,000 copies of the Peoples Charter Consultation Document had been distributed nation-wide. TASS Public Outreach teams had visited up to one thousand (1,000) villages and settlements to raise awareness on the Peoples Charter process and received up to 2,000 oral and written submissions and responses to the national issues outlined in the Consultation Document.

The NCBBF welcomed the largely positive responses from the people at the grassroots level to the idea of reforms under the People’s Charter. This contradicts the generally negative perception which comes through the mainstream media and in particular from vocal opponents to the People’s Charter initiative.

The NCBBF also acknowledged the active support and the direct involvement of several civil society organizations in supporting TASS in the dissemination of information through the outreach activities.

The NCBBF resolved to undertake extensive nation wide public consultations on   the proposed package of electoral reform including dialogue with key stakeholders such as the political parties. The NCBBF stressed that the people of Fiji need to be well informed about the weaknesses of the current electoral system and the strengths of the proposed electoral system, so they can make up their mind individually without fear of the pressure from the opponents of reform.
 
The Meeting which ended today 24 June, 2008 was held at the Nasova Police Academy, Suva.

National Council for Building a Better Fiji
24 June, 2008