FIJI does not need a senate because it is an impediment to the passage and implementation of pressing legislation, says Labasa businessman Charan Jeath Singh.
He told the Constitution Commission, that parliament should only have a House of Representatives.
"Fiji does not require a senate. Our economy does not justify a bi-cameral parliament as it merely duplicates the work in the parliamentary process," Mr Singh said.
"The new parliament should consist of 50 members of whom 25 would be elected through the first-past-the-post system from four constituencies based on the population ratio of each constituency.
"The four constituencies are to be north, west, east, and central. The remaining 25 seats should be allocated by ratio through proportional representation of the political parties thereby members nominated into the House of Representatives through party list." Mr Singh said political parties submitting the list of their party preferences to the Supervisor of Elections must reflect the equal distribution of the representation of its members from all parts of Fiji based on the population in each constituency.
"It should also be compulsory that women make up half of the list of each political party in their preference list."
Mr Singh suggested that the term of parliament should remain at five years and that the registration of voters should be made compulsory although voting should be left to the people.