03 JUN 2008
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Talks to determine the rightful holder of the chiefly Vunivalu of Bau title are progressing smoothly between the chiefly families of Kubuna, Fijilive has established.
One of Bau’s chiefs, Ratu Tu’uakitau Cokanauto told Fijilive that talks were continuing with no exact timeframe set on when to wrap up talks with an expected concrete outcome.
“The chiefly families of Kubuna have been meeting and these talks have been ongoing. It’s going smoothly,” Ratu Tu’uakitau said.
“And it is progressing though we do not expect any decision to be made so soon,” he added.
Fijilive had earlier established that two meetings had taken place on Fiji’s chiefly island last month.
Suva lawyer Savenaca Komaisavai, who has close links to Bau, confirmed to this news web portal that the contenders for the title are: Adi Samanunu Talakuli Cakobau (Fiji’s former High Commissioner to Malaysia), her younger brother Ratu George Kadavulevu Cakobau, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau and interim Foreign Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.
Ratu Tu’uakitau said the families wanted to meet and hold thorough and consultative meetings to discuss issues on the title of the Vunivalu of Bau, a title that had been vacant since 1989 after the death of the last Vunivalu, Fiji’s first local Governor General Ratu Sir George Cakobau.
He said the meeting would not involve the Tailevu Provincial Council reasoning: “It is none of their business”.
It is understood that recent moves to fill the post have been prompted by the policy of the current administration to only include traditionally installed chiefs in the Great Council of Chiefs.
The Native Land Commission may have to adjudicate on the matter if the Bau chiefs do not agree on a name.
One of the contenders to the title, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, told Fijilive that he would meeting officials from the NLC today.
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