The Bua Youth Network with more than three hundred members yesterday made their submission to the Constitution Commission in Nabouwalu.

The BYN wants the new Constitution to remove any homophobic laws that exist to discriminate people based on their sexual orientation.

Appearing as a panel, the members raised concern on the excessive consumption of Kava which has affected productivity, marriages and fertility rates in villages.

The youths also say it’s unfair to the landowners for the state to take ownership of minerals and resources found 6feet beneath the ground.

They want the constitution to transfer all land to iTaukei landowners.

The Network spoke out against pregnant women having to travel long distances and paying as much as $400 to reach a hospital for deliveries.

Another concern was the number of school drop outs in villages within the Bua province because parents can’t pay school fees.

The Bua Youth Network also called for the constitution to include harsher penalties for rape, more transparency on monies collected in the ‘Soli ni
Yasana’ and to ban alcohol consumption in villages.

The Constitution Commission will be at Ratu Luke School in Bua today.