Namatakula villager Jonathan Emmanuel has called for the return of Fiji’s communal electoral system, arguing that it would allow communities to have representation in Parliament based on their place of origin and constituency.

Emmanuel made the submission during the fourth public consultation on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill at Lawai Village Hall in Nadroga, where he addressed the Special Committee on the proposed constitutional changes.

He said he welcomed aspects of the proposed Bill and acknowledged the work undertaken during the Constitution review process.

However, he argued that one recommendation from earlier discussions involving representatives from several Tikina remained missing from the amendments he had reviewed.

“One thing that we have submitted to bring back the communal electoral system,” Emmanuel told the committee.

He contrasted the communal system with the current “one man, one vote” arrangement, arguing that the existing approach did not adequately represent the communities he was speaking on behalf of.

Emmanuel referred to discussions involving representatives from the tikina of Vatukarasa, Komave, Korolevu-i-wai and Namatakula, saying the communal voting proposal had been raised during earlier consultation work.

He explained that the system he was advocating for would allow communities to elect representatives who could speak directly to their concerns and issues in Parliament.

“I know now we are using the one man, one vote system. It doesn’t represent us all who are sitting here,” he said.

Emmanuel also challenged members of Parliament to consider whom they represent, arguing that a representative should be able to speak for the specific communities and constituencies that elected them.

He said the proposal was intended to ensure that communities such as those he referred to in his submission had a clear voice in the national legislature.

“So, it represents us to parliament,” Emmanuel said, explaining the reason behind his call for the communal system.

His submission focused on the relationship between electoral arrangements and community representation, with Emmanuel arguing that the way votes are organised can affect how people see themselves represented in Parliament.

The communal electoral system proposal was one of the issues raised during the consultation as the committee gathered public views on the proposed amendments.

Emmanuel’s submission adds to the wider discussion about electoral representation and how constitutional arrangements should reflect the interests of the communities they are intended to serve.

The committee will consider submissions made during the consultation process as part of its examination of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill.

BY: JOELI RAGONELIWA