Praneeta Prakash 
[Photo: Fiji Government/FACEBOOK PAGE]
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says neither the parliamentary Special Committee reviewing the Constitution Amendment Bill 32 nor his party has instructed people to vote against the proposed changes in a referendum.
Rabuka gave the assurance during yesterday’s consultation after a participant raised concerns about advice reportedly given near venues in Ra.
The participant says four men told him people are being encouraged to vote “no” in a referendum while choosing their preferred candidate in the General Election.
He questioned whether the advice came from committee members or individuals campaigning nearby.
He initially doubted the account because the committee comprises members from different political backgrounds, but hearing it from people he knew prompted him to seek clarification.
Rabuka denied that the committee or his party was responsible.
“I just want to assure you that that advice or that instruction, whatever it is called now, has not come from the committee, nor from my political party. So I do not know who might have been responsible for telling the people, if you, if the referendum, just say no, but vote for your party, whatever you know, your, your candidate.”
The participant also referred to claims that a referendum and the general election would be held together, which Rabuka’s response did not confirm.
