Close to 40 submissions have been made for the Code of Conduct Bill.

Currently, before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights, the Bill aims to bring about an unprecedented level of accountability for all public officials.

Committee Chair, Alvick Maharaj says they’ve had a good response from the Fijian public with the submissions received.

“Roughly if I recall, I believe a bit more than 24 oral and roughly around 15 for written, but what actually came as a surprise that I received a lot of calls from the members who are actually sitting on the positions which are listed under schedule six and they are very much for this Bill because they actually understand what this Bill is all about.”

To ensure the Code of Conduct Bill had comprehensive coverage, the committee also traveled to the Western and Northern Divisions to hear submissions.

Maharaj says the committee is scheduled to hear one more submission over the weekend.

After which, they will then compile the submissions which will be sent back to the Solicitors General’s office and to the drafters of the Bill for amendments and clarifications.

Following this, Maharaj says the committee will then work on their report to the table in Parliament’s April sitting.