Naitasiri Province questions GCC team

Naitasiri Province questions GCC team

www.sun.com.fj - 6/18/2008


A province has questioned the purpose of consultation visits by the Great Council of Chiefs taskforce to provincial council meetings.
Naitasiri Provincial Council chairman Ilaitia Tuisese yesterday said if the interim government was intent on choosing members of the new-look GCC, then it was pointless sending out the taskforce team to the provinces.

He was reacting to comments made by taskforce chairman Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo that the interim Fijian Affairs minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama would choose members of the GCC if provincial councils failed to nominated council members.

Mr Tuisese said the province expressed its opinion and views on the changes made to the GCC and agreed that the members of the old GCC body remain.

“This is the people’s frank view and opinion of the matter and it would be respected,” he said. He said moves by the interim government to impose its choice on the people were unreasonable.

“Why come and ask us for our view in the first place, when eventually they are going to have their way?” he said of Ratu Josateki’s announcement.

“We can’t say much because this is the province’s stand,’’ he said.

“We have not come up with any names for the new GCC.”