The National Advisory Council to the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress has suggested to the Constitution Commission that the Fijian Parliament should henceforth appoint the President of the Republic and that his or her term of office should be for five years.
“Each incumbent should be allowed only one term in office,” Josefa Seruilagilagi, Chairman of the Council said, appearing before the Commission last week.
Among those present were Deputy Chairman Lorraine Tevi and Members Jone Dakuvula and Dewan Maharaj.
The Commission comprised Professor Satendra Nandan and Dr Taufa Vakatale.
Mr Seruilagilagi said that the Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition should nominate two names each to Parliament and that the members should elect through secret ballots.
“The post of the President should be only for Fiji citizens with a distinguished record of public service and of good character. They should be medically fit and should not have any criminal record or bankruptcy,” Mr Seruilagilagi said.
Among the Council’s other recommendations were (a) the number of members in Parliament be reduced to 54 from 71 (b) restriction of membership to Fiji citizens (c) candidates with dual citizenship should renounce their citizenship of all other countries and (d) their term of office be for four years.
