Naitasiri vocal on land plan

Thursday, February 28, 2008-www.fijitimes.com

MEMBERS of one of the province of Naitsiri have been vocal about the land dereservation plan floated by Dr Krishnamurti.

A member who preferred to remain anonymous said there were questions raised by members who came in numbers to meet at the Tamavua Village community hall yesterday.

"There were questions raised and what the dereservation meant for those owning land," the source said.

The source said the landowners were concerned about their land with the latest announcement. When The Fiji Times visited the village yesterday, they were not allowed to sit in the meeting.

Present at the meeting was Naitasiri chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata.

Last week, the province of Cakaudrove warned interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry to back off and not touch land issues.

Speaking on behalf of the Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and the people of Cakaudrove, Epeli Matata said Mr Chaudhry and the interim regime should not dereserve native land.
End of story

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Making the Right Choices

SITIVENI RABUKA
Sunday, February 24, 2008-www.fijitimes.com

The Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa, front, makes her way to the Great Council of Chiefs meeting held last year. WIll she be one of the chiefs disqualified from sitting on the new GCC + Enlarge this image

The Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa, front, makes her way to the Great Council of Chiefs meeting held last year. WIll she be one of the chiefs disqualified from sitting on the new GCC

NI sa bula. What a week! Still, it was a great week!

It was a great week because we now know one of the things that Frank believes will continue to build a better Fiji a good council of chiefs.

Before Cession, Ratu Cakobau at his chiefly home knew exactly who he needed to agree with him in his move to cede Fiji to Queen Victoria.

He asked them to support him on his understanding that these chiefs' word was law in their vanua, kingdoms, confederacies or alliances.

Ratu Cakobau had known of their prowess in battles, their powerful leadership of their subjects in social development and cohesiveness.

The result of his careful choice of the chiefs he wanted to sign the Deed of Cession with him is that the pacification of the rest of the chiefs was not as drawn out or as bloody as could have been, had he not scouted properly for whom to come to the signing table.

Such is the importance of having wisdom in the council of chiefs.

Frank has timed the changes well, by design or by accident to bring in the "qualifying" clause of who a chief is deemed to be.

We are lucky indeed, for if the "installed" clause had been brought in 50 years ago, many of the great national mission and vision deciders would not have qualified.

And if Frank had brought in the "legitimacy" question, we may have to repeal many of our statutes because many authors in the past would not have been qualified to rise to national leadership for being illegitimate. My favourite uncle once told me there are no illegitimate children only illegitimate parents who refuse to accept their responsibilities.

I quite agree with that, for why should we look at the absence of a participating father if the issue of his union with a willing mother becomes a successful man or woman.

Why should we disqualify someone just because he or she is illegitimate?

Well, we are all glad that this issue is not a "disqualifying" factor.

But what of their other "disqualifying" factors like previous service to the nation in Parliament, not being an "installed" chief, being an ex-con etc.

It would be interesting to hear the views of the champions of our constitution like Akuila Yabaki, Dakuvula, Barr and Mataca on whether these provisions in the new Fijian Affairs (Great Council of Chiefs) Regulations 2008, contravene certain parts of Section 38 of our 1997 Constitution.

While the new Commissioner of Prisons is doing his best to destroy the past image of prisons and prisoners and make inmates ready to be totally absorbed back into society on their release, it is rather incongruous that the new regulations will perpetuate the stigma but only at a certain level of the indigenous society.

While my cousin Peniela will be ready to come and live his full village life in Drekeniwai, my paramount chief (and properly installed one at that!) will not qualify to represent his subjects in the council that his erstwhile forefathers had taken almost for granted was God's calling on them to be members in.

Ioane took some high profile prisoners to their former work places where they shared morning tea with former and possibly future colleagues, to drive the point home that the law brought in by the SVT government on "spent conviction" is the way to go for this young and close-knit nation.

With these in mind, it is such a pity that the Fijians will be deprived of the services of some very highly qualified chiefs, two in particular one of whom has spent all her life teaching, counselling and serving others in her chosen career and in Parliament, and the other who had gracefully accepted the court's verdicts and served his time for his past.

Prior to that he had served the Fijian people in the Native Land Trust Board, accepted being made redundant by one of his own subjects from his province and served the nation in Parliament.

And, not many Fijians can boast a Harvard education!

With all these things happening, it is going to be interesting to see if the economy will grow, so it is very important to have someone who knows the tricks to be the catcher of tax dodgers and be the national official receiver, because it takes one to catch one!

Have a great Sunday and another great week

Macuata Catch Centre will Help People

Serafina Silaitoga
Monday, February 25, 2008-www.fijitimes.com

+ Enlarge this image

Times: Macuata has been identified as the province with the highest number of people who have moved elsewhere in search of a better life. As the paramount chief of the province what is your view of this?

Ratu Aisea: That is a fact and is a concern as people continue to move out of Macuata or the Northern Division because of the expiry of land leases.

This has happened since the political upheaval of 2000.

It is because of the lack of employment and study opportunities.

I believe that is why the interim Government has brought in the Northern Development Program, with an investment of $5million.

Most of the population in Macuata were descendants of the Girmitiyas, having cane farms in the province and with the expiry of land leases, they moved out of Macuata.

Times: So you believe the NDP will prevent or halt the vast majority of people moving out of Macuata.

Ratu Aisea: It will help by using the capital provided by the NDP to raise participation of the community in businesses at every level from micro to mega businesses.

This will help and increase development in not only Macuata but the Northern Division.

It will enhance and upgrade the livelihoods of the people as there will be capital available here.

Times: Apart from the NDP assistance, as the paramount chief, what else do you propose to do to change this?

Ratu Aisea: Yes, the chiefs are looking at other things we can do to help the people, one of which one is the qoliqoli where plans are under way to establish a market for fishermen where locals can sell their catch instead of struggling to find markets themselves. We will set up a centre where they can bring their catch to and we will sell it to markets in Viti Levu.

We are looking at a small business scale, like PAFCO, in Levuka, to stand at Naduri, and part of the funding we will apply for to the NDP.

Times: How much will this cost?

Ratu Aisea: We are looking at a quarter million dollars to start off the project for the people of Macuata.

This will be the initiative of the vanua to prevent the rural urban drift as it will create employment opportunities.

Times: When do you expect to open this centre?

Ratu Aisea: It's in phases and right now we are involved with the issuing of fishing licenses, which will close this Friday and the set up of the centre is the next phase of our plans.

Times: Do you feel that the lack of utilisation of resources by landowners and the people of Macuata over the past years has contributed to the slow pace of development in Labasa?

Ratu Aisea: I believe the improvement of the economy in the North lies with the people and even though resources can be a source of finance when marketed, the problem was with the technical side of it where mills are needed to produce furniture or there were limited markets for the products.

Like with honey, farmers have struggled to find markets, so I believe the problem was with the market and technical assistance because if these were available a decade ago, then Macuata would have been fully developed by now.

Times: Cane leases have expired, tenants have been displaced and yet it's an irony there is so much idle land around. What is your opinion on the members of your province who demanded land back but have done little or nothing to improve it?

Ratu Aisea: We are mobilising that right now by working with the Native Lands Trust Board to create and change the mindset of landowners to capitalise on their cane farms.

We are looking at the total involvement of landowners in the cane industry from leasing to farming to marketing instead of just receiving lease money.

We are working on landowner involvement in the production of ethanol and we believe landowners should be shareholders in whatever companies we will work with or set up to produce ethanol.

Times: What do you think of the suggestion by an Indian consultant to dereserve reserved land?

Ratu Aisea: I believe that not all reserved land are to be derserved but the reserved land that is not being cultivated or made use of.

However, a very good consultation and negotiation is to be done with the landowners where the sugar industry can be allowed to use only small areas of reserved land where landowners will benefit greatly.

But not all reserved land is to be used because it is part of us passed down from our forefathers and should be kept aside for our future generation for their own use.

Times: Are there any plans by chiefs to discuss with their people renewal of land leases because basically this town is suffering economically because of the land problems?

Ratu Aisea: We are working with the NLTB and our people talking to them about getting involved with cane farming themselves.

So it will be a different approach altogether as the landowners will have another option to cultivate their own land and not necessarily renew their leases, which they will decide themselves

Only meaningful dialogue will resolve our land problems

Monday, February 25, 2008-www.fijitimes.com


The issue of land has reared its contentious head again on the local political scene.

And again (in contemporary times) it is Mahendra Chaudhry who has brought it up.

And again, as would have been expected, there is a cacophony of reactions from all around the overwhelming majority being negative.

This article attempts to discuss, in one piece, some of the main issues surrounding the land question in Fiji. Release land

The rationale in support of releasing (de-reserving) land for productive use is largely economic based.

Over 90 per cent of land in Fiji is native owned.

There is little arguing that the bulk of land taken back through non-renewal of sugar leases went to fodder; this trend continues.

Another 50,080 hectares moved from Crown Schedule A&B in 2002 have not made any visible difference to the economic plight of the i taukei.

The socio-economic ramifications of this are only too visible for the caring urban overflow, over-crowded dwellings, burgeoning squatter settlements, juvenile delinquency, lack of respect for order and authority, rampant crime, prisons bursting at the seams, etc.

It, therefore, becomes imperative on any government to address these largely (though not exclusively) Fijian problems.

And the main strength lies in getting the Fijians to make better economic use of their main asset land.

This can be done either directly by engaging in commercial agriculture or indirectly by leasing out land to the willing, ethnicity notwithstanding.

One sure way of implementing this is to de-reserve idle land and make it available on lease to both Fijians and other communities.

This would not only give the new Fijian lessees an economic asset for hassle-free loan collateral, but it would give the non-Fijian lessee security of tenure.

A win-win for all provided the infrastructure is in place and there is no shortage of land for traditional taukei usage. The mover

The above rationale calls for careful consideration, but in the Fijian psyche it does not reach the stage of being granted even a hearing because the mover is Mr Chaudhry a person reviled and distrusted by the bulk of the Fijians.

The demonisation process that galvanised part of the support for the 2000 coup left an after-effect that was never totally erased.

Then Mr Chaudhry's public skirmishes with Professor Baba, Poseci Bune, etc. followed by his speedy support of the 2006 coup and characteristic subsequent disregard for the niceties of public relations have not helped his public image among the wider population.

His commissioning of the publicly controversial Krishnamurthi report (regardless of the explanatory play with words that have accompanied it) have further stoked the flames of suspicion.

Mr Chaudhry, therefore, should have been the last man to spearhead the latest land move.

Unfortunately, he took it unto himself to attempt to help the country regardless of how unsound his self-counsel may have been.

This calls for a closer look at the support structure that has propelled Chaudhry to the fore on this highly significant issue.The support structure

The 2006 coup brought Mr Chaudhry back into government and into a portfolio that many (including yours truly) thought should have been his in Laisenia Qarase's multi-party Cabinet.

Mr Chaudhry was said to have joined the interim Cabinet after carefully considering the invitation from Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

There was a large group of people who disliked the coup, but expected some good to come out of it because of arrogant, wasteful and exclusionist trends seen under Mr Qarase's reign.

What the interim regime forgot was that it had to keep an eye on the public relations aspects of its run in power.

Sure they were doing hard work under extremely trying circumstances with obstructionist reactions from traditional economic partners.

The fact remained that they could not afford to alienate the very people that they were supposed to be working for.

Therein lies the weakness of the support structure behind Mr Chaudhry's latest land move.

The very people who own the land have had the pinnacle of their tradition being besieged by the interim PM while Mr Chaudhry has commissioned a covert land report.

The faith, trust and goodwill, that was the cornerstone of the relationship between the Crown and the Fijian people in 1940, is marked by its clamourous absence at this juncture.Keep the land

That lack of positive inclination aside, the Fijian sees his land as an extension of his being he is of the land and the land is part of his identity, something that provides meaning to his existence.

He does not see it as a commodity or property in the Western sense.

This is where the first point of conflict arises in discourse on land in Fiji.

The term i taukei is linked to the qele; this usually takes the form i taukei ni qele meaning the custodians of the land.

This is different from "owners of the land" as understood in the Western sense.

It has wider generational, ownership and responsibility implications.

Thus if the i taukei feels that he is being overlooked or ignored on matters pertaining to the qele he will instinctively become negative and disinclined.

I do not wish to labour this point here as there are those who are better qualified for that.

Suffice to say that land is not an issue to be treated as a matter of fast convenience in Fiji.

There are established lines of communication and protocol to be followed.

This might appear time consuming and obstructive, but it is essential for the consensus necessary for any lasting policy to emerge. The fallout

One would wish that land would not hold such a premium both from the economic as well as socio-political perspectives seen above.

Unfortunately that is the reality of life in Fiji (as in many other economies).

Fijian land was made available to colonial Britain as well as the Colonial Sugar Refinery Company.

It continued to be made available to SPSM and then the Fiji Sugar Corporation and other stakeholders.

This is where sugar politics a continuing struggle against a hostile company and government has its roots.

When ALTA leases started expiring in the late 1990s, there was a call from the landowners for a renegotiation of rents so that renewals could be granted.

This became a major political issue that all concerned tried to capitalise on.

There were issues and contingencies that never saw the light of day.

Much was made of the material progress of the cane farmers with little appreciation of the virtually Calvinistic principles of hard work and thrift that led to that progress.

This issue was thumpingly raised at a panel discussion by a Fijian professor who said "we are not fools".

Later I wrote to him in private pointing out the differences in attitude towards investment and consumption.

He never replied even though we remain friends.

The continuing land saga in Fiji is a result of that inability to engage in meaningful, concerned and constructive dialogue.

And at the centre of that was none other than the controversial Chaudhry. n The opinions contained here are those of the author and not necessarily shared by his employer, the University of the South Pacific, or any other organisation local and foreign that he may be associated with

GCC Membership Change Makes No Sense

OPINION -www.fijidailypost.com


To Be or Not To Be - 23-Feb-2008

THE past week has been a political revelation and an awakening call for the general public, particularly the indigenous Fijian community.

Likewise, a major portion of the Indian community as well as the minority groupings are wary of the revelations because they are aware that their future prosperity in this country is pegged along with that of the indigenous Fijian basket. You may ask what the hell is this idiot talking about? Or who is this novice or neophyte to come and express an opinion on political issues affecting Fiji at the moment?

Yes, of course, you are quite right to question my qualification or my integrity to express a political opinion. I don’t mind being called names, being sworn at, vilified, or even castigated, but I reserve my rights under the Constitution to express an opinion freely without fear of being arrested or intimidated.

Anyway you don’t have to be Einstein to notice that all is not rosy in Fiji at the moment. All that glitters, no matter how shiny some of us polish it, is not gold. You would have to be blind Freddie not to see that what is on display in some quarters is, in fact, a shiny papyrus commonly known to some as ‘fools gold’.

Anyway, as pointed out earlier on, political manifestations this week have indeed been a revelation.

First, there was the infamous proposal by an Indian national expert on Sugar, Dr Krishnamurthi, recommending that all reserved native lands should be de-reserved, to rehabilitate the ailing sugar industry.

The idea is for these de-reserved parcels of 40 to 400 hectares of land to be leased to individual farmers or companies for commercial farming.

The Dr Krishnamurthi report was commissioned by the Minister of Finance Mahendra Chaudhry. The report is now with the Native Land Trust Board, as custodian of native lands, for consideration.

The outcry against the proposal, understandably, from landowners, has been overwhelming. The cry is: why should native landowners sacrifice their resources to enhance the economic sustainability of tenant farmers and the political convenience of their political masters?

In fact, judging by the wholesale condemnation of Dr Krishnamurthi and his report, I believe the good doctor should be thankful that we are now living in the new millennium and that indigenous landowners have embraced Christianity. Otherwise he could be lovo meat by now.

A few days after the Murti mayhem, another revelation came to light.

This time, interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama issued via government gazette dated February 13, the Fijian Affairs (Great Council of Chiefs) Regulations 2008.

First and foremost, through these newly published Regulations, Bainimarama revoked the Fijian Affairs (Great Council of Chiefs) Regulations 1993.

This move is unprecedented. Bainimarama’s action has been viewed with awe and trepidation. Why? Because there is a case challenging the legality of the original dissolution of the GCC which was undertaken in 2007 by the former interim Fijian Affairs Minister, Ratu Epeli Ganilau. That case is still pending in court.

I refer more specifically here to the challenge by sacked chairman of the GCC, Ratu Ovini Bokini, and former GCC members, the Ka Levu of Nadroga, Ratu Sakiusa Makutu, and Kubuna Chief, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau.

The case has been called several times in the High Court. It is now set for hearing in March.

One would have thought that it would be prudent on the part of the Interim Government to shelve their proposed restructure of the GCC until the High Court had made a ruling on the legality of the dissolution challenge.

It would certainly make sense, indicating mature and responsible leadership.

But lo and behold, the Interim Government has thought otherwise and gone ahead with the restructure process.

What can be deduced from such bold and deliberate action?

Well, what can we say except that the action seems to be but a true reflection of the mediocre legal, political and traditional advice emanating from his chief legal officers. Or perhaps from one officer in particular, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum? There appears to be no regard whatsoever with due process of the law.

From the point of view of a layman like me, it appears that Sayed-Kaiyum is advising Bainimarama according to what Bainimarama wants to hear and not what he should be told. Circumventing the law appears to be a daily exercise as long as it adheres to the whims of the coup makers. Is this action a case of contempt of court, I wonder?

Such is the desperation by the Interim Government to stamp its authority, that it is forced to deliberately turn a blind eye to the law in the mistaken belief that the unsuspecting Joe Blow down the road will not notice what it is up to. There is a Fijian expression which described this eloquently; me dina ga a dai- literally translated “let the lies be truths”.

What has happened to the universally accepted and recognised norm that aggrieved persons have a right to be heard in a court of law? I suppose if we are in a dictatorship there is no such accepted norm. Yet we are presumably still living in a constitutional and legally based democracy.

Anyway, the Fijian Affairs (Great Council of Chiefs) Regulations 2008 is a document whose provisions are shot through with confusion and muddled thinking of the kind that could lead to mayhem and chaos if adopted. Certain provisions overlap with each other while some even seem to contradict each other.

The GCC 2008 Regulations spell out in detail what class of chiefs are eligible for membership, how members can be disqualified, its functions and duties, how often the GCC should meet and its Secretariat.

Reading through its provisions, I cannot help but believe that the Interim Government is “obsessed” with dismantling the age-old Fijian system of government, which, for over a century, has been the pillar of the indigenous Fijian society. The whole interim Cabinet appears to be infatuated and preoccupied with this obsession.

They are passionate and in many ways fanatical about “clipping the wings” of Fijian leadership. If they are allowed to carry on unchecked, the Fijian bird of paradise will soon fall to the ground in a splatter, unable to soar high into the sky as all its feathers will have been systematically and unceremoniously plucked off by these fixated political explorers.

The new-look GCC will have 45 members comprising 3 chiefs from each of the 14 provinces and 3 chiefs from Rotuma. And there shall be 6 co-opted members. The 45 chiefs and the 6 co-opted members will all be appointed by the Minister for Indigenous and Multi-Ethnic Affairs. In this case, the interim Prime Minister, Bainimarama.

The interesting question here is, who among the chiefs is chiefly enough to be regarded as a chief and qualifies to be a member of the GCC representing their province? In other words, who is a chief and who is not? We can take it a step further to determine who the real chief is and who is the ‘thief’ (those claiming the title for traditional and political expediency and convenience)?

If that is not enough, the Regulations stipulate qualifications that would automatically deprive real chiefs from representing their people in the GCC.

A good example is the case of the Turaga Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu. It is public knowledge that Ratu Naiqama is the paramount chief (Turaga-I-Taukei) of the Vanua of Cakaudrove. He has a number of traditional sub-chiefs (if I am allowed to describe them as such for the sake of clarity), who owe allegiance to Ratu Naiqama as Tui Cakau.

Ratu Naiqama has already been installed as the Turaga Tui Cakau by the people of Cakaudrove as their paramount chief.

But under the new regulations, Ratu Naiqama would not qualify as a member of the GCC because the high chief was a minister in the deposed Qarase government - thus has not fulfilled the seven-year stand down period subscribed under the 2008 GCC Regulations.

And not only that, Ratu Naiqama would be disqualified on the grounds that he served time as a prisoner after he was convicted for the role he played in the takeover of the military camp at Labasa during the 2000 coup.

A closer look at Ratu Naiqama’s case reveals a clear case of outright discrimination. I mean Ratu Naiqama had served his time and paid the price for using his chiefly status (rightly or wrongly) in his pursuit to maintain calm and peace during the mutiny in Labasa then.

His stint in parliament as a politician and as a government minister, like his installation as Tui Cakau was through the will of his people. To deprive him of representing his people in the GCC is to rob his people of their right to determine who is to be their chief and who is to represent them in the GCC. Why should he be discriminated against because his subjects want him to represent them?

The interim regime should not let itself be put in a position where it could be accused of taking out a personal vendetta against people like Ratu Naiqama – and others who seem to be viewed as enemies because such people do not subscribe to the government’s line.

Under the new 2008 GCC Regulations, three chiefs would be appointed by interim PM Bainimarama, after, I suppose, consulting the Cakaudrove Provincial Council.

Indigenous Fijian protocol demands that one of the three chiefs representing Cakaudrove would automatically be Ratu Naiqama in his capacity as Tui Cakau. The other two will have to be by choice provided (according to the new regulations) they have been traditionally installed and recorded as such in the Registrar of Native Lands.

What a disaster. I can now visualise the tension, struggle, emotion, division and even hatred erupting as those endowed with “blue blood” try to out-manoeuvre each other so they could win favour to be installed. Chiefly brothers will quarrel among themselves with the expectant rush among chiefs (even minor ones) to be installed hoping they would be appointed as members of the GCC.

This is what I meant when I said we will now witness who is the real chief and who is the ‘thief’ among our own blood lines. Chaos within the chiefly system and the vanua will be the order of the day. And what better recipe to divide the Fijian society than to encourage a battle royal among the ‘blue bloods’ of Fijian society under the membership clause of the GCC 2008 regulations.

I am reminded here of my late friend Taniela Veitata (God rest his soul), insisting that we refer to him as Ratu Taniela Ratu Veitata - epitomising that he is among the highest chiefs in Fiji. How and why? Well, simply because, he claims to be the only man in Fiji with a double Ratu.

He theorised that by self-imposing a double “ratu” in his name, he has qualified him to be among the ‘blue bloods’ of Fiji. We had a good laugh about it at that time. In fact, it became a household joke among our group. But wait a minute, it now appears that Ratu Taniela Ratu Veitata has had the last laugh after all – thanks to the drafting skills of the Regulations 2008 legal team.

So I ask, in all sincerity, is this what the Interim Government wants - the total weakening of the traditional Fijian system of life in order to impose another brand of authority?

Anyway, the GCC 2008 Regulations is a flawed document because it is totally inconsistent with the undertaking the Interim Government made in 2007 with the European Union (EU) on the roadmap to democracy that was to start with the March 2009 General Election.

But, among other things, how can the total independence of the GCC be maintained? With Bainimarama as new chairman of the GCC, the appointing authority and the decisions reached by the GCC are to be scrutinised by Cabinet which will be chaired by Bainimarama as interim PM, the independence of the GCC will be but a myth. It will be highly politicised.

Then there is the provision where members of the GCC are required to swear an oath of allegiance to the President after their appointment. This is again flawed and muddled thinking. The President, under the Constitution, is appointed by the GCC. How then can GCC members swear an oath of allegiance to the President if they are also empowered to remove him from office?

Well, as for me, I’d rather remain a ‘thief’ than have ‘blue blood’ and be called a chief. However, I can always be a self-imposed chief with three “ratus”- one better than my friend Ratu Taniela Ratu Veitata.

Until next week, happy reading.

Misipolo

Lawyer questions Bainimarama’s authority

22 FEB 2008 -www.fijilive.com
Suva lawyer Savenaca Komaisavai says Indigenous Affairs Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is a commoner and has no authority to appoint himself to chair the Great Council of Chiefs.

He maintained Bainimarama’s appointment was “wrong and illegal”.

“For the position of GCC chairman, nomination comes through the office of the President. I don’t see any authority for Frank nominating himself,” Komaisavai said.

He questioned Bainimarama’s motive behind these moves.

“What has the Fijian nation and its people done to be treated this way in such a vicious manner when all their institutions they hold here have been attacked like this.”

Komaisavai and Lautoka lawyer Kitione Vuataki are representing a group of chiefs that were suspended from the GCC following the December, 2006 coup.

They will also be filing for a judicial review next week against Bainimarama’s “illegal” appointment.

“Who is he trying to hoodwink here? We have laws in this country to follow. You don’t just go and nominate yourself, especially a commoner like him,” Komaisavai told reporters at the Suva court.

“What standing does he have to go and elevate himself? He is asking for trouble.

“As a Fijian, that’s wrong and it is a very stupid decision. A politician of high standing, a Prime Minister would not stoop that low to treat Fijians that way. I would have hoped he would have done something wiser than that, stay out of it.

“Since he’s gone down that road, I’m coming too for him and we will meet somewhere at the junction down that road. And let me tell Frank, there’s only one guy standing after that, that’ll be me.”

Komaisavai said the independence and the integrity of Fiji’s judiciary was intact, “which is why we have come for help, for relief on behalf of the Fijian people to the High Court”.

He said the people of Fiji deserved better because the President’s office was not only for Fijians but “for our Indian brothers and sisters as well”.

“You can’t take that away. You must not. It must never happen,” he said.

Bainimarama returned from India today. He will hold a press conference on Sunday where he is expected to react strongly to criticisms leveled against him following the gazetting of a new regulation for a yet to be appointed new-look GCC.

According to the new law, the paramount chiefs of Fiji’s three traditional Fijian political divisions will not qualify to join the GCC.

Only traditionally installed chiefs can be part of the GCC and those who have not delved in politics in the last seven years.

In 2006, Bainimarama seriously challenged the highly revered institution when he suggested that its members then, “go drink brew under a mango tree”.

GCC Prestige Further Eroded by Illegal Regime

Bainimarama 'is confused'
Saturday, February 23, 2008-www.fijitimes.com

Interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama is confused in appointing himself as Great Council of Chiefs chairman, says Vuda chief Ratu Tevita Momoedonu.

Ratu Tevita said everyone remembered him saying chiefs should go and drink homebrew under a mango tree, "and yet he has turned around to head it". "That's the biggest irony of the century."

Ratu Tevita said Commodore Bainimarama's actions would not do justice to the people of Fiji, especially the indigenous people.



Who is he, chief asks

ROBERT MATAU
Friday, February 22, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com

Tui Namosi Ratu Suliano Matanitobua during an interview with The Fiji Times at SDL headquarters yesterday+ Enlarge this image

Tui Namosi Ratu Suliano Matanitobua during an interview with The Fiji Times at SDL headquarters yesterday

THE Turaga Na Tui Namosi, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, said yesterday if he was stopped from being a member of the Great Council of Chiefs then no other chief in his province would be a member of the august body.

He said his forefathers, from his namesake Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, who was one of the chiefs who ceded Fiji to Great Britain in 1874, had been members of the Great Council of Chiefs down the line through the ages.

"Why should I not be when my forebearers have always been members of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga," Ratu Suliano said.

"Chiefs cannot be separated from politics.

"Chiefs make decisions for the good and welfare of their people and the vanua."

Ratu Suliano said in his province there was only one Turaga-i-Taukei and that was the Tui Namosi and no one else.

"If I do not go in, where will they get the three members from?

"I also wonder if the advisers and legal drafters understand what a turaga i taukei is?

"There could be other provinces facing the same situation as Namosi and they cannot make up the three members under the so-called criteria of membership.

"It is even worse where the turaga i taukei have not been installed because of a delay or title dispute."

Ratu Suliano said the interim Government's amateurish and ill-informed interference in the matanitu-i-taukei or Fijian administration was an abuse of the indigenous Fijian customs and traditions.

"Why has he appointed himself as chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga," he asked.

"Did he not say after he unlawfully removed the elected government that no military officer would benefit from the takeover?"

Ratu Suliano said the plot was clear and that "this coup is all about dismantling the Fijian chiefly system, customs, traditions and their institutions".

"Who is the leader of the army to dictate the direction and the decisions of the GCC with the army's political agenda?

"Commodore Bainimarama is not a turaga i taukei but a public officer."

Ratu Suliano asked why the commander should appoint members of the GCC.

"Let the representatives of the people, that is, the provincial council appoint their reps in the GCC because they know best."


Fiji ruled by law of the jungle says Nasautoka chief

Friday, February 22, 2008

Update: 5.20pm Former Great Council of Chief member and Nasautoka chief Ratu Semi Seruvakula has labelled interim Prime Minsiter and coup leader Voreqe Bainimarama a dictator.

Ratu Semi who is the father of former military senior officer Colonel Viliame Seruvakula said Fiji was being ruled through the law of the jungle.

Ratu Semi was reacting to the news that Bainimarama appointed himself again as the GCC chairman on top of being the prime minister as well as military commander of Fiji.

Oath limits council: Chief

February 21, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com

THE new-look Great Council of Chiefs will not be able to carry out its constitutional role fully if members take an oath of allegiance to the President, says Cakaudrove paramount chief Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.

Ratu Naiqama said the oath was prescribed in a gazette issued by interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama last week. He said the oath would put the GCC's powers to remove the President in doubt.

"Wouldn't that be affecting the full effect of the GCC if members were to take an oath of allegiance to the President?" Ratu Naiqama said.

Section 93 of the Constitution gives chiefs the power to remove the President from office under certain conditions.

He said absolute sovereignty in Fiji did not exist but Fiji was exceptional compared to countries like New Zealand and Australia.

"In New Zealand, the Maori's own a small majority of land. In Fiji, 90 per cent of the land is owned by Fijians."

Ratu Naiqama said council members would face a conflict of interest if faced with the question of removing the President from office because they had sworn allegiance to the man they appointed as head of the country. "GCC appoints the President. Now the council has to swear before the every man they appoint. That's the conflict of interest here." "What must be realised is that paramount chiefs and chiefs are independent of each other.

GCC order is flawed: Chief

FREDERICA ELBOURNE
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com

Ratu Tuuakitau Cokanauto ponders a question during a press conference in Suva, yesterday.+ Enlarge this image

Ratu Tuuakitau Cokanauto ponders a question during a press conference in Suva, yesterday.

THE taskforce commissioned by the interim Government to review the Great Council of Chiefs has admitted that the gazette which prescribes the role of the new-look council is flawed.

Taskforce head Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto yesterday said what was stated in the gazette was a "deviation" from the recommendation they made following widespread consultation with chiefs and provinces around the country.

The gazette, dated earlier this month under interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama's name, stipulates that as interim Minister for Indigenous Affairs, not only does he appoint himself as chairman of the council but is also the appointing authority of the future members of the council.

This, Ratu Tu'uakitau, said failed to reflect the apolitical stance of the new-look council which the team had recommended.

"It's not vakaturaga of us to go back and present something contrary to discussions we had," he said.

Ratu Tu'uakitau said he would seek an audience with Commodore Bainimarama, who returns from Indian this week, to iron out issues raised in the gazette with the view to improving it.

He said he only dealt with his line minister Commodore Bainimarama over the matter and would not hold an audience with the Attorney-General's chambers to discuss misfits in the gazette.

He said the aim of the review was to remove political influence from the institution and admitted he did not know why or how the inclusion of the minister was introduced in the gazette.

Ratu Tu'uakitau said he had cited the draft gazette before it was published and was dumbfounded when news broke earlier this week that the gazette failed to fully reflect the team's recommendation to Commodore Bainimarama.

He said the prime minister, president and vice president were to be removed as council members in a bid to maintain the sanctity of the institution leaving the president as the appointing authority of the council.

Changes to Two Important Recommendations
Publish date/time: 20/02/2008 - www.fijivillage.com

Great Council of Chiefs Taskforce Chairman, Ratu Tuakitau Cokanauto said although the interim government has made changes to two important recommendations the taskforce submitted, it does not mean that their work is a waste of time and taxpayers money.

Cokanauto defends the work they have carried out and said the people supported the changes proposed by the taskforce. The Bau high chief said it would be not Vakaturaga if the interim government reject their recommendation and add something else.

Ratu Tuakitau Cokanauto said he will seek a meeting with the Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama on the cabinet decision which has led to the Indigenous Affairs Minister being appointed Chairman of the GCC.

He revealed that they were not consulted on changes to the GCC regulations.

The Taskforce was appointed to gather submissions from people around the country and forwarded its recommendations to the cabinet late last year.


Bainimarama selfish, says Ro Teimumu

Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com

REWA paramount chief, Ro Teimumu Kepa says interim Prime Minister and military commander, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama's taking on the position of chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs is a self-centered decision.

Ro Teimumu was reacting to Commodore Bainimarama's name being gazetted as chairman of the GCC.

"At the beginning of the (December 2006) coup he assured the nation that no military officer would benefit from the coup," the former Education Minister said.

"Then he took up position of President, then he became Prime Minister, then co-chair of the National Council to Build a Better Fiji and now he is the chairman of the GCC."

Ro Teimumu also wondered what advice the military council dominated by Fijian colonels had given the interim Prime Minister on Fijian institutions.

"I would be interested to know what they have told him particularly in the latest issue," she said.

"How can they sit back and watch the destruction of the institutions that protect the rights and interests of the Fijian people?"

Ro Teimumu said Commodore Bainimarama's actions showed he was acting in his own interest.

"While they have been portraying the nation's larger interest what we are seeing is the emergence of the interest of one person."

Chief questions military council’s silence
20 FEB 2008
Rewa high chief and head of the Burebasaga confederacy Ro Teimumu Kepa has questioned the Fiji military council’s silence on matters of paramount interest to indigenous Fijians.

Responding to the latest development that interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has appointed himself chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, Ro Teimumu said this should be of utmost concern to Fijians in the military council.

She said these are the very people who should be protecting the Fijian structure for this generation and the generations to come.

“After all what is the military there for? Why aren’t they talking? Are they afraid of him (Bainimarama)?” she questioned.

“Bainimarama doesn’t move from point A to B without the approval of the military council.

“Aren’t they supposed to be protecting our land, our heritage? Why are they dismantling the Fijian structure?” questioned the former Education minister in the ousted Laisenia Qarase-government.

She asked how they can just sit back when Fijian institutions and the very heart of the Fijian structure is being targeted.

Comments are being sought from the military.

The new-look GCC will have a total of 52 members, 10 less than the previous GCC.

This includes three representatives each from the 14 Fijian provinces and Rotuma, while Bainimarama will appoint six co-opt members who are chiefs that have been traditional installed and recorded in the register of Native Landowners administered by the Native Lands Commission.

Govt wanted political link to chiefs' council
20 FEB 2008 - www.fijilive.com
Fiji’s Cabinet decided there should be a direct link to the Great Council of Chiefs to reflect their views in matters of national affairs, says acting interim Prime Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

Responding to criticism against the appointment of interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama as GCC chair, Ratu Epeli said Cabinet decided that the council be chaired by none other than a full Cabinet minister and the minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs.

“Cabinet deviated from the recommendation of the Great Council of Chiefs task force because it felt the Minister for Fijian Affairs should not only continue to be a member but that he should also be Chairman of the GCC,” he told journalists at a press conference.

“Therefore, Commodore Bainimarama as Prime Minister and as Minister for Indigenous Affairs in this case is the Chairperson of the GCC under the regulations.

“It must be clarified in this case that PM Commodore Bainimarama did not directly appoint himself as GCC chairperson,” Ratu Epeli said.

GCC taskforce secretary Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo earlier said the announcement took them by surprise.

“We had deliberately left the President, vice president, Prime Minister and the Fijian affairs minister from the GCC set-up to avoid any political influence,” Ratu Josateki said.

New-look GCC illegal: Youth group
20 FEB 2008
The Young Peoples Concerned Network is unhappy with moves by Fiji’s interim regime to hand pick chiefs who sit on the Great Council of Chiefs.

Spokesperson Peter Waqavonovono said this move goes against the very principle of involving Fiji's chiefly leaders in politics and the decision making process in the country.

And moves by the interim Prime Minister to sit as GCC chairman are disappointing and is illegal, he said.

“We are under the impression that this GCC Regulation Decree is a decree establishing a Minister of Fijian Affairs Council and not a sovereign and independent council of chiefs.”

“The new look GCC and its selection criteria is a 'Slap in Face' to indigenous youths who look up to chiefs for direction and wisdom.

”We do agree however with the increased role the GCC has been given according to section 8 of the GCC Regulation Decree 2008, which describes and expands the role of the GCC to articulate legislations and mediate over national issues. This however is undermined by restrictions placed on membership and a dictatorial role exercised by the Minister of Fijian Affairs,” Waqavonovono said.

He added that provinces and chiefly leaders should have the right to pick their representatives to the GCC regardless of past convictions, economic failures, allegations, political affiliations and ideology.

GCC team taken for a ride: Nawalowalo - www.fijilive.com
20 FEB 2008
Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs taskforce team believes that interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama is not getting proper advice from the interim Government.

The team was commissioned by the interim Government to review the operations and membership of the council.

Taskforce secretary, Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo said Bainimarama was ‘misinformed’ to take up the chairmanship of the council.

“We believe that the people who are behind him are not giving him proper advice and that’s the reason he has taken that position.”

“This has somewhat come as a shock for us and we believe that we were somehow used to bring the GCC report into context.”

“It was clear in the report that whoever shall join the council should be apolitical, but this agreement has been broken and he (Bainimarama) is setting a bad example for other chiefs.”

“The report by the taskforce we believe is the only road to reconciliation and the road to democracy but this was not honored by the Prime Minister.”

Nawalowalo said the taskforce was never given a chance to discuss this matter and were surprised that the position was filled without consulting them.

He said this could be the biggest downfall of the interim Government.

“I can tell you that these people are playing with fire because the GCC council should not be taken as a ride by anyone except for chiefs who have been approved to be in there.”

He said whatever is contained in the GCC review report is what the chiefs of Fiji have decided upon and this has been endorsed by the President himself.

“The President had given his approval but when it came back to Cabinet they did not agree so they made a few changes before recommending the Prime Minister as chairman.”

“It’s pointless to say that we have done a good job to get the report in place just because somebody did not adhere to the rules and regulations.”

GCC team seeks answers from Fiji PM

19 FEB 2008-www.fijilive.com

The chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs review team, Ratu Tu’uakitau Cokanauto, wants interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to explain why he appointed himself chairman of the GCC.

Cokanauto said his taskforce had recommended a new look-GCC that will be apolitical. However, Bainimarama, the interim Indigenous Affairs Minister, has indicated in a gazette dated February 13 that he will have significant influence in its operations.

“Our recommendation was that the council would appoint a chairman from amongst its members and the appointing authority of the GCC would be the President. But in this instant it is the Minister of Indigenous Affairs,” Cokanauto told fijilive.

Cokanauta said he is concerned that recommendations made to the interim Cabinet last Tuesday “was a result of our consultation with the ‘vanua’”.

“I want a meeting with the PM on his return from India before this matter gets out of hand,” he said.

“At the end of the day we have to take the recommendations back to the ‘vanua’. But it’s now different to what the ‘vanua’ agreed to.

“It’s going to be a battle.”

Cokanauto said Cabinet has agreed that the taskforce revisits the provincial councils at the end of August to tell them of the approved recommendation.

“We must go back there with a clear conscience,” insisted Cokanauto.

"It's not 'vakaturaga' (chiefly) to go back to them with something totally different.

Bainimarama is expected back in the country on Friday.

GCC gazette was flawed: Ratu Tu'uakitau

Tuesday, February 19, 2008-www.fijitimes.com

THE chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs Taskforce Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto said the gazette regarding the new chairman was flawed.

In a press conference that just ended recently, Ratu Tu'uakitau said the taskforce team had recommended the depoliticisation of the GCC.

However he said they were surprised when the gazette came out with the interim Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama being the new chairman and also appointing authority of the council itself.

Ratu Tu'uakitau said they would await Commodore Bainimarama's return to discuss the matter.

However a number of chiefs have come out strongly against the announcement.

Bainimarama using self agenda: Ro Teimumu

Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com

Update: 3:28PM THE paramount chief of Rewa Ro Teimumu Kepa said Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama's taking on the position of Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs was a self centered decision.

Reacting to Mr Bainimarama's name being gazetted as Chairman of the GCC showed that while the interim regime was portraying a macro picture the actions showed that a micro or self centered position was forming.

"At the beginning of the coup he assured the nation that no military officer would benefit fromm the coup," the former Education Minister said.

"Then he took up position of President, then he became Prime Minister, then co-chair of National Council to Build a Better Fiji and now he is the chairman of the GCC.

Ro Teimumu also asked what had the military council, dominated by Fijian colonels, advised the Prime Minister on Fijian institutions.

"I would be interested to know what they have told him particularly in the latest issue," she said.

"How can they sit back and watch the destruction of the institutions that protect the rights and interests of the Fijian people."

Bainimarama is GCC head

FREDERICA ELBOURNE - www.fijiitimes.com
Tuesday, February 19, 2008

INTERIM Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has appointed himself chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs following a gazette issued under his name last week.

Dated February 13, 2008, the gazette on the Fijian Affairs Act states that each of the 14 provinces and Rotuma will have three representatives who have demonstrated exemplary leadership at vanua level and in the community at large.

As chairman, Commodore Bainimarama will appoint members that make up 52 members of the council who have been traditional installed and recorded as such in the register of Native Landowners administered by the Native Lands Commission.

The previous council had 62 members. Former life member Sitiveni Rabuka said a noticeable difference was the appointment of council members by the minister.

However, interim Attorney- General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the minister appoints on the recommendation of the provincial councils. Commodore Bainimarama will appoint six co-opt members who are chiefs by right, the gazette said.

Each member will take an oath of allegiance before the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and can seek re-appointment at the end of their three year term.

Allowances will be prescribed by the chairman a matter which has not been deliberated in full as yet, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said. For members who want to resign, the date of their resignation will be effective from the date of the minister's endorsement, the gazette said. The minister as chairman may suspend, discipline or dismiss any member who brings disrepute to the council. Members are disqualified if they:

are an un-discharged bankrupt;

are serving a prison term;

have a previous conviction in the 10 years leading up to their appointment in the council, particularly if they have been released from prison after serving a term of imprisonment of more than six months, whether as an in-mate or extra-murual prisoner, or, completed community service order;

were held public office, including Senate and the House of Representatives over the past seven years preceeding their appointment to the council;

contested the general elections;

were office bearers of a political party;

have unsound mind in respect of the Mental Treatment Act;

have allegiance, obedience or adherence to a power or State outside Fiji including being a citizen or resident of another country.

SDL slams interim PM on GCC appointment
19 FEB 2008 - www.fijilive.com
Fiji’s former ruling political party, the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua, is worried that the Great Council of Chiefs is being used as a mockery by the country’s interim Government.

The SDL, which comprises a majority of indigenous Fijians, says the appointment of interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama as the GCC chairman is an insult to all the chiefs of this country.

The GCC is the highest Fijian institution in the land and comprises chiefs from all the 14 provinces in the country.

SDL party spokesman, Peceli Kinivuwai said Bainimarama disregarded the chiefly system altogether by appointing himself chair of the council.

“This is a disgrace to the Fijian protocol and also a mockery of the chiefly system.”

“No one has come in forcefully without being legally appointed and made himself chairman of the GCC and to make it worse he is not a chief to be in that position.”

Kinivuwai said Bainimarama is not taking any advice from anyone and is always doing things on his own.

“We really feel sorry for the chiefs as a lot of them are really embarrassed with the way the interim Government is running things.”

“They are being insulted and embarrassed with this act of shame by a commoner who has proclaimed the chair by force,” Kinivuwai said.

“What will become of this proud nation if our chiefs are being treated this way because it is now clear that we don’t have any respect at all for them?”

GCC review team meets - www.fijilive.com
19 FEB 2008
Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) taskforce team is meeting in Suva to discuss interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s self-appointment as chair of the council.

Taskforce member Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo confirmed this to Fijilive today.

A statement is expected from the taskforce later this afternoon.

On whether or not the appointment was legal, Nawalowalo said Bainimarama could appoint himself in his capacity as (interim) Minister for Indigenous Affairs, as provided for under the Fijian Affairs regulation.

Asked whether the team supported his appointment, Nawalowalo said “it is not a matter of whether we support him or not”.

“It is none of our business because we were mandated to carry out a task and we have done our job. What they have done was at their discretion,” Nawalowalo said.

“Maybe he has his own reasons on why he appointed himself to be the chairman of the GCC but it is better that the question be posed to him,” he said.

“This (appointment) has come as a total surprise to us because this is not one of our recommendations at all – for the Prime Minister to be chair of the GCC. It really wasn’t expected,” Nawalowalo said.

He indicated it was not appropriate for Bainimarama to be the GCC chair because he currently held a public office being interim PM and interim Minister for Indigenous Affairs.

GCC chairmanship not easy: Tui Namosi
19 FEB 2008
Namosi high chief Ratu Suliano Matanitobua is skeptical about the appointment of Fiji’s interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama as the chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs.

Speaking from the highlands of Namosi today, Ratu Suliano said the appointment will be an extra burden for Bainimarama as he already has a number of portfolios under his belt.

“The heavy workload will be immense. It’s too much for him.”

Ratu Suli said being the chairman of the GCC will not be easy as it requires good decision making and someone who knows Fijian protocol well.

“No one is appointed anyhow to the chair. To sit up there you need to have the blessing of other chiefs.”

The Tui Tavua Ratu Ovini Bokini was reluctant to comment on the issue saying that some issues regarding the GCC are still before the courts.

“Those of us who have taken the interim Government to court will not comment at this stage until we are instructed by our lawyers to do so.

Task Force Surprised after appointment
19/02/2008 -www.fijivillage.com

The Great Council of Chiefs Taskforce did not recommend to cabinet that the Interim Prime Minister and Minister for Indigenous Affairs should be appointed as the new Chairperson of the Great Council of Chiefs.

A taskforce member said the appointment of Bainimarama contradicts what they have recommended. He said their recommendation was that the President, Vice President and Prime Minister should not be part of the GCC since they want the institution to be apolitical.

He said they discussed the issue with the GCC Taskforce Chair Ratu Tuakitau Cokanauto yesterday and are expected to comment later today.

‘PM wants President, VP of own choice’
19 FEB 2008-www.fijilive.com
Fiji’s interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama’s self-appointment as Great Council of Chiefs chair will ultimately suit his agenda of choosing the President and vice-President of the country, says a paramount chief.

Head of the Burebasaga confederacy and Rewa high chief Ro Teimumu Kepa said Bainimarama was taking extreme measures “to ensure that potential candidates for these positions are endorsed by the members he handpicks”.

“We’ve seen him appoint himself as President, as Prime Minister and as co-chair of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji and now he’s seen it fit to head the GCC.

“His self-appointment will see him manipulating and controlling the country. It will bring about dictatorship,” she said.

“He will put there people of his own choosing so he will be able to manipulate them.”

Ro Teimumu, a former Education minister, was a member of the ousted GCC.

Bainimarama will chair a new-look Great Council of Chiefs, following a gazette issued under his name last week.

He is expected to appoint a 52-member council. Those who have contested the general elections or have held public offices including the Senate and House of Representatives are not eligible.

The GCC, the highest Fijian institution in the land, is expected to convene later this year after recommendations by the taskforce is regularised by the interim Cabinet.


Chief questions mandate

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

CAKAUDROVE paramount chief Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has questioned his subject Ratu Filimoni Ralogaivau over his mandate to speak on behalf of the province as a member of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji. Ratu Naiqama yesterday questioned Ratu Filimoni's mandate to join the council.

He said the province of Cakaudrove had indicated earlier it would join the council on the proviso that elected members of the ousted Laisenia Qarase-led Government were included. "Who are you? Who gave you the mandate? Speak for yourself and not the province," Ratu Naiqama said yesterday, in comments directed at Ratu Filimoni. He said if the Bua Provincial Council gave Ratu Filipe the mandate to join the council then the latter's allowance from council meetings should go as proceeds towards the provincial council. Ratu Filimoni is chairman of the Bua Provincial Council.

He could not be reached for comment last night.


We must be heard: Naiqama

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

CHIEFS and politics go hand in hand in Fiji's economic development, says Cakaudrove paramount chief Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.

Ratu Naiqama said the suggestion that future members of the Great Council of Chiefs must have no political affiliation was impractical.

"My great great grandfather, my great grandfather were part of the Legislative Council, including my father," he said.

"The late Governor-General/President Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau and Ratu Mara were no exception.

"I am only one of them. There is the Roko Tui Dreketi, the Nakalevu of Nadroga. We were born into it. They can't take it away.

"That's part of our role to be included in politics. We were born to lead, as chiefs of this country."

Ratu Naiqama is a member of the GCC by virtue of his birth.

He was a Cabinet minister in the ousted SDL Government.

He also served time in jail for his involvement in the mutiny at the Sukanaivalu Barracks in Vaturekuka, Labasa in 2000.

Ratu Naiqama said the military itself was political. He said this was demonstrated through the recruitment of former military officer Manasa Vaniqi as permanent secretary for Provincial Development.

"The military is political," he said.

"(Mr) Vaniqi lost the last election and went back to the army before he recently became permanent secretary.

"So how can they say that chiefs cannot play a political role. This call for an apolitical stand holds no water."

Mr Vaniqi said he was a reservist of the RFMF but served in the civil service for the past 30 years.

"I am a commissioned officer, a major," he pointed out.

"My being part of the army and contesting the elections is like Ratu Penaia, Ratu George.

"Like any civil servant, I had to quit when I contested the last election as an independent for Cakaudrove West. I also contested the 2001 elections for SDL," he said.

Interim Defence Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau said there was nothing to stop any government from implementing changes to reflect modern times.

He said issues raised by Ratu Naiqama were about the past and it did not mean that changes could not be effected.

During Ratu Epeli's term as interim Fijian Affairs Minister, the GCC was suspended and a review of the institution ordered.

"We change as we go along to suit the situation," Ratu Epeli said.

"We can't compare what we're going through to what they went through so many years ago."


Lands chairman unaware of probe

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

THE Native Lands and Fisheries Commission is unaware of reports that an independent team auditing Fijian institutions would be moving to the commission soon to review customary fishing grounds boundaries.

NLC chairman Ratu Viliame Tagivetaua said he was yet to be briefed by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, his permanent secretary or the interim Government. He said he was not aware of reports customary fishing grounds or qoliqoli boundaries for all three confederacies Kubuna, Tovata and Burebasaga were about to be changed.

Ratu Viliame said the qoliqoli boundaries could not be changed.