A leaders’ meeting of elected representatives from both sides of the House did not end well, with an exchange of words over important issues that were initially agreed to be approached on a bipartisan basis.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka revealed on A Conversation with the Prime Minister that all government members put in the effort to garner additional support on the vote for the Constitution Amendment Bill 2025.

“Not only the ‘Group of Nine’ – all government members, even I – had spoken to some members of the Opposition, explaining the need to go forward in governance, embracing the need for bipartisan efforts as we now get into the real ‘grind’ of working on the Amendment of the Constitution and the National Truth and Reconciliation, etc.,” Mr Rabuka said.

He said even the Leader of Opposition requested a meeting a day before the Amendment Bill was to be tabled.

“Only a day before the Bill was brought for First Reading, the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Inia Seruiratu, sent me a letter, delivered by his Opposition Whip, Hon. Jone Usamate, asking for a meeting to discuss issues that needed bipartisan discussions on the important matters before us now.

“I arranged for a ‘Leaders’ Lunch and Meeting,’ where we emphasised the need for bipartisanship. Sadly, before the end of the day, we were exchanging verbal daggers and arrows on one of the most important issues we had agreed to approach on a bipartisan basis.”