PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DAILY HANSARD WEDNESDAY, 20TH NOVEMBER, 2019 [CORRECTED COPY] C O N T E N T S Pages Minutes … … … … … … … … 155 Communication from the Chair … … … … … 155-156 Resumption of Debate on the Address by His Excellency the President … … … … 156-166,169-231 List of Speakers: Hon. A.D. O’Connor … … … 155-160 Hon. J. Saukuru … … … … 160-166 Hon. V. Pillay … … … 169-173 Hon. Dr. Ratu A. Lalabalavu … … 173-178 Hon. V. Prakash … … … 178-183 Hon. Dr. M. Reddy … … … 184-190 Hon. S. Rasova … … … 191-196 Hon. I. Seruiratu … … … 197-202 Hon. P. Vosanibola … … … 203-208 Hon. Rohit Sharma ... … … 211-213 Hon. M.D. Bulitavu … … … 214-220 Hon. J. Sigarara … … … 220-223 Hon. A. Sudhakar … … … 224-230 Referrals of Treaties to Standing Committees … … … … … 167-168 Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence - Review the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer … 167 Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence - Review the 2011 Asia-Pacific Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications … 168 Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence - Review the Treaty – ‘Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competition’ … 168 Suspension of Standing Orders … … … … … … … 208-209 Corrections Service (Amendment) Bill 2019 … … … … … 231-234 Land Transport (Amendment) Bill 2019 … … … … … 234-238 155 WEDNESDAY, 20TH NOVEMBER, 2019 The Parliament resumed at 9.40 a.m., pursuant to adjournment. HONOURABLE SPEAKER took the Chair and read the Prayer. PRESENT All Members were present, except the Honourable Ratu N.T. Lalabalavu, the Honourable M.R. Leawere, the Honourable A.M. Radrodro, the Honourable L.D. Tabuya, the Honourable Ro F. Tuisawau and the Honourable Lt. Col. P. Tikoduadua. MINUTES HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, I move: That the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Tuesday, 19th November, 2019 as previously circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed. HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Honourable Speaker, Sir, I beg to second the motion. Question put. Motion agreed to. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHAIR Welcome I welcome all Honourable Members to today’s sitting of Parliament. I also welcome members of the public joining us in the gallery, and those watching the live broadcast of the proceedings on television and the internet. Thank you for taking an interest in your Parliament. World Children’s Day - United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) For your information, Honourable Members, today is World Children’s Day, and it is the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund’s (UNICEF) Annual Day of Action for Children, by Children. This year is extra special as it marks the 30th year of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 30 years of Child Rights that have helped transform children’s lives around the world. This is a time to celebrate and a time to demand action. Children are telling us, loud and clear: it is time for every child to have every right. Fijian children have taken to the world stage to raise awareness on climate change. At this juncture, I would like to point out that for Fiji, the guidelines are aptly and clearly laid out in quote, “the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji - Chapter 2 under the Content heading “Bill of Rights”, Section 41: “Rights of Children: (1) Every child has the right – 156 Debate on HE’s Address 20th Nov., 2019 (a) to be registered at or soon after birth, and to have a name and nationality; (b) to basic nutrition, clothing, shelter, sanitation and health care; (c) to family care, protection and guidance, which includes the equal responsibility of the child’s parents to provide for the child – (i) whether or not the parents are, or have ever been, married to each other; and (ii) whether or not the parents are living together, have lived together, or are separated. (d) to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, any form of violence, inhumane treatment and punishment, and hazardous or exploitative labour, (e) not to be detained, except as a measure of last resort, and when detained, to be held: (i) only for such period of time as is necessary; and (ii) separate from adults, and in conditions that take account of the child’s sex and age. (2) The best interests of a child are the primary consideration in every matter concerning the child”. Honourable Members, so for us in Fiji, the rights of children are already catered for but we have to all work together closely to ensure that these rights are fully realised. Honourable Members, I thank you for showing your support for this event and “blue” is the colour for today. RESUMPTION OF DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, we will continue with the response to His Excellency’s Address, and I now call upon the Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, the Honourable Alexander O’Connor. You have the floor, Sir. HON. A.D. O’CONNOR.- Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, Honourable Speaker, the Honourable Prime Minister, Honourable Cabinet Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Members of Parliament, members of the public in the gallery, and those watching this proceeding from the comfort of their homes: A very good morning to you all. Mr. Speaker, Sir, may I take this opportunity to acknowledge all Fijian children today as we celebrate World Children’s Day. I wish to thank the Members of Parliament who have taken the time to dress in “blue” today to signify this very important day in our calendar. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to make my contribution to the motion by the Honourable Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama before this House, that Parliament thanks His Excellency the President for his most gracious speech at the opening of the 2019-2020 Session of Parliament on Tuesday, 12th November, 2019. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in His most gracious speech, His Excellency the President mentioned, and I quote, “Only six short years since the launch of our 2013 Constitution, we are undoubtedly still living some of the most consequential chapters of our history”. 20th Nov., 2019 Debate on HE’s Address 157 Mr. Speaker, Sir, during the hashtag, our Constitution challenge this last September the response was overwhelming. His Excellency mentioned: - Six-year old Shaveen Kumar who said how he loves our Constitution because it empowered him to unabashedly call himself a “Fijian”. - The Nokilevu sisters, Siteri and Kelera of Rewa who spoke about how the right of information enhances civic engagement and lends transparency to our democracy. - Josua from Moala in Lau shared how our constitutional right to health and the regular visits of health officers to his island has dramatically changed life in his community for the better. Rather than selling coconuts to cover the boat fares to visit a health facility, his community can count on healthcare officers to deliver lifesaving services directly where they reside. Thanks to the Bainimarama Government for the foresight in purchasing a dedicated ship complete with dentistry and surgery equipment capable of carrying out emergency operations on board on the water. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Constitution Day reminds us, among other things, of a very important issue and that is today, every citizen of our beloved country can proudly call themselves “Fijians”. The name is universal like the Americans, Australians, New Zealanders, French, Germans, et cetera. Government’s move to have everyone being called “Fijian” is equal citizenry. While delivering his Address at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, 2018, our Prime Minister, the Honourable Voreqe Bainimarama said he was proud of what was accomplished by Fijian democracy, and I quote, “Where once we had only the shell of democracy, we have now pierced to that shell, and we have brought the Fijian people into a genuinely inclusive society in which minority rights are respected and all citizens are equal, not just in name, but in fact, that is the great promise of the 2013 Fijian Constitution which has been the beacon for our progress through its vast array of political and social economic protections for every Fijian”. You only have to look around the world at rugby tournaments regardless of whether our Sevens Teams or the Flying Fijians or the Fiji Batis are playing, you will find Fijians of different ethnic background cheering together under the Fijian Banner blue. When the Fijian Sevens Team returned home from Rio with the Olympic Gold Medal, Fijians turned out in numbers and rejoiced the win. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when Government first proposed this change for everyone to be called “Fijian”, there was hue and cry from all sectors and sections of the country. In bringing about equal citizenry the Government has extended public utilities, infrastructure and services throughout the country to include the disadvantaged and those living in the rural areas and in the outer islands. Is this not what all our different religious teachings want us to do? To see our Prime Minister put smiles on the faces of Fijians living in some of the most rural and remotest areas in Fiji through development is indeed priceless. Of course, the key to all of these is the foundation of the roadmap and that is the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress which was compiled through an unprecedented nationwide consultation process and endorsed by His Excellency the President, in December 2008 for implementation. Like Saint 158 Debate on HE’s Address 20th Nov., 2019 Paul on the road to Damascus, the Prime Minister saw the light of an enduring vision. The nation could not keep sustaining a culture of ethnic divisions coupled with upheavals.