Affordable housing, access to healthcare and support for vulnerable communities were among the issues raised by Kalaveti Naqiolevu during the fourth public consultation on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill at Lawai Village Hall in Nadroga.

In his submission to the Special Committee, Naqiolevu urged government leaders and future members of Parliament to consider the everyday challenges facing ordinary citizens, particularly young people trying to establish families and those who struggle to access essential services.

He highlighted the rising cost of housing, particularly in urban centres, saying young people starting their families faced growing difficulties in securing homes they could afford.

“I feel for the youths who are about to start their families and are living in the urban centres,” Naqiolevu said.

Referring to property prices reported in the media and on social media, he urged the government to use the resources available to it to improve access to adequate housing.

“Please, please do everything in your power and use every tool at your disposal to make housing affordable so the ordinary Fijian can have access to adequate housing as it is your constitutional duty to ensure,” he said.

Naqiolevu also raised concerns about access to mental health services, particularly for vulnerable people and those experiencing mental illness who may not be receiving the care they need.

He called for mental health hospitals and rehabilitation centres to be established in the Western and Northern divisions, arguing that services based in Suva were insufficient to meet the needs he believed the country was facing.

He said more attention was needed to ensure vulnerable people, including those living on the streets, could access appropriate treatment and support.

His submission also addressed the right to health under Chapter 39 of the Constitution, which sets out the State’s responsibility to take reasonable measures, within available resources, towards the realisation of the right to health and access to healthcare services.

Beyond housing and healthcare, Naqiolevu raised concerns about people who may have been wrongfully prosecuted or confined.

He questioned whether adequate compensation was available for those who suffered loss of income, damage to their reputations and emotional distress as a result.

He also proposed that the government consider providing free land surveys for residential and agricultural purposes, arguing that this could support access to housing and strengthen food security.

On natural resources, Naqiolevu proposed establishing a sovereign wealth fund using mineral royalties, with funds made available to landowners for business opportunities and development in the provinces where the minerals originate.

He used the example of infrastructure needs in Nadroga and Navosa to explain how resource revenue could potentially support local development projects.

Naqiolevu further questioned the administrative fees charged by the iTaukei Land Trust Board, asking whether these charges were necessary if the organisation could meet its administrative costs through its own revenue.

He also raised concerns about the Constitution’s immunity provisions, arguing that they should be examined as part of the amendment process.

Naqiolevu acknowledged that his submission covered a range of issues but said he wanted the concerns to be placed on the public record for the committee to consider.

His presentation called attention to the links between constitutional rights and everyday needs, including a secure home, access to healthcare, support for vulnerable groups and opportunities for communities to benefit from the country’s resources.

BY: JOELI RAGONELIWA