THE province of Lomaiviti wants the new constitution to promote Fiji as a country where people of all races, religion and culture can live together in peace and harmony.
The issue was raised with the Constitution Commission in Levuka last Sunday by Inoke Navuetaki on behalf of the Lomaiviti Provincial Council.
Mr Navuetaki said the constitution should remain the supreme law of the country.
"The new constitution should have a provision which clearly spells out that all citizens should respect the constitution," he said.
Mr Navuetaki said the council supported the idea of retaining the compact chapter of the 1997 Constitution but it should be modified and amended to suit post-1997 developments.
The council proposed that all the provisions of that document provide safeguards for native land and fishing rights.
"For the iTaukei, the land is our life, it is our existence, the concept of vanua is all-encompassing covering the earth we stand on, rivers and seas and most importantly, the people, their tradition, culture and belief," Mr Navuetaki said.
He said the council also recommended that a commission for fishing rights should be set up to review fishing rights and reaffirm principles in consideration of sustainable sustenance by the indigenous people.
Mr Navuetaki stressed that the constitution must mention the conversion of forefathers from heathenism to Christianity through the power of Jesus Christ; the enduring influence of Christianity and its contribution along with that of other faiths to the spiritual life of Fiji.
On the role of chiefs, the council proposed that the Great Council of Chiefs be revived, reformed and re-adopted as the institution that protects and safeguards the rights of the indigenous people.