Fiji Reopens Constitution Bill Submissions Until November 14

Fiji's parliamentary committee reviewing proposed constitutional changes has invited a further round of written public submissions, with a new deadline of 4 p.m. on Saturday, 14 November 2026. The committee is examining Constitution (Amendment) Bill No. 32 of 2026, and its report is now expected by 30 November.

The new call, reported on 5 November by Fiji Sun and The Fiji Times, is a concrete next step after Parliament agreed earlier in the week to postpone the committee's original reporting deadline. The extension does not mean the proposed constitution has been enacted or that a national referendum has been formally called.

The committee has asked individuals, institutions, organisations and community groups to identify the provisions of the bill they wish to address, explain their concerns, propose specific amendments or deletions, and give reasons for those proposals. Submissions must identify the person or organisation making them. Fiji Sun reported that the committee's notice sets the deadline at 4 p.m. local time on 14 November.

Parliament's decision to extend the committee's work was approved on 2 November, and subsequent reporting said the extension was formally approved on 3 November. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said additional time was needed to hear public views and complete the report. The Fiji Times reports that the committee is now due to submit its report by 30 November. The distinction between the parliamentary decision and the later public notice matters: the extension was already known, but the newly publicised submission deadline tells residents when they can still participate.

The earlier TFNOS report, Fiji Parliament Defers Constitution Bill Report as Referendum Timetable Tightens, covered the 2 November parliamentary postponement. The new development is the committee's subsequent public invitation specifying the 14 November submission deadline and the 30 November reporting target.

The bill still faces further parliamentary consideration. A third-reading vote and any national referendum are separate stages; neither has been completed by this consultation notice. The government previously discussed 9 December as a possible referendum date, but that proposal should not be confused with an issued referendum writ or a confirmed vote. The committee's final report, parliamentary vote and any electoral writ remain the documents to monitor.

The revised schedule has practical consequences for public participation and electoral planning. It gives citizens and civil-society groups more time to scrutinise the government draft, while leaving the timing and outcome of any constitutional change unresolved.