Fiji PM promises "modern day" constitution

SUVA, July 21 -- Fiji Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has said the Pacific island country will have a modern day constitution before elections in 2014.

Addressing delegates at the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) general conference in Fiji tourist resort town of Nadi on Monday, Bainimarama said this will be the priority of his government after it strives to build the country's economy and infrastructure within the next three years.

He said this will include encouraging Fiji's private sector and the media to partner with his Government in initiatives that will be pro-growth and pro-poor, the Fijilive website reported on Tuesday.

Last month, Bainimarama delivered his roadmap to democracy, which includes work on a new constitution to begin in September 2012

He said the new constitution must include provisions that "will entrench common and equal citizenry, it must not have ethnic based voting; the voting age shall be 18; and it must have systems that hold elected governments accountable with more checks and balances".

Bainimarama has assured that he will return the country to democratic rule by September 2014, eight years after he overthrew the Qarase-led Government in a bloodless coup.