22 Dec 2012

Fiji's AG says liberal approach being taken towards constitution debate

7:36 am on 22 December 2012

The interim attorney-general of Fiji Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the Constituent Assembly, which will debate the draft constitution, will operate in a liberal environment.

Fiji's Constitution Commission Chairman Professor Yash Ghai handed over the document to the President at government house on Friday.

Professor Ghai says a whole chapter is dedicated to the framework of national security, which sets out the boundaries and values within which the military should work.

He says the Commission was disappointed when the interim government scrapped the plan for public debate on the draft last month.

But Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says that will happen through the members of the Constituent Assembly.

"They of course will take it back to their constituency and debate the draft constitution with their constituencies. The work of the constituent assembly, what it will do and how it will conduct its business, you will find that it's a very liberal approach."

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says expressions of interest are being sought from people who would like to be on the Assembly, and says the interim Prime Minister will chose the successful candidates.