RETIRED school principal Anand Balram suggested to the Constitution Commission that Fiji should move away from the Westminster system of democracy and develop its own.
He told the commission in Rakiraki over the weekend there was no reason for Fiji to be a copycat.
"We should develop our own system of democracy, keeping in mind our own needs and requirements," he said.
Mr Balram submitted that all Fijians need to change their mind-set and stop fighting over petty issues and instead concentrate on developing the country.
"People need to be progressive," he said.
"People in developed countries have made it to the moon and here in Fiji, people are still fighting over land when the fact is everything natural belongs to God. We are fighting over land and water - others have reached the moon and here we are fighting over issues which only drag us back."
Mr Balram also submitted that Fiji's diversity of culture and religion should be embraced and the number of seats in Parliament be reduced.
"Fiji is such a small nation. Why do we need such a big number in the House of Representatives?" he said.