A select committee tasked with reviewing Tuvalu's constitution is holding public consultations.
Tuvalu held a debate between students of Motufoua and Fetuvalu schools on the constitutional review process, 27 May 2021. Photo: Tuvalu Ministry for Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs
The parliament established the committee to oversee a review after the government found that an earlier review under a previous administration hadn't gone far enough.
Consultations are at their preliminary stage, according to the Ministry for Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs.
Its consultations are being held with stakeholders including youths, island communities and civil society on core thematic areas.
The thematic areas include whether Tuvalu should retain or remove the Queen as the Head of State, and also whether to have a system whereby the Prime Minister is directly elected.
The Chairperson of the Select Committee is Tuvalu's Minister for Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs, Simon Kofe.
Last night he and the ministry hosted a Debate Competition on Funafuti for students of Motufoua and Fetuvalu schools regarding the constitutional review.
They examined the issues of the Queen as Head of State and How the Prime Minister is Elected, as well as the relationship between both topics and youth issues in the country.
Tuvalu held a debate between students of Motufoua and Fetuvalu schools on the constitutional review process, 27 May 2021. Photo: Tuvalu Ministry for Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs