Kadavu rejects charter, delays GCC

Thursday, May 22, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com



Kadavu has rejected outright the Peoples Charter and have delayed a decision on the newlook Great Council of Chiefs.

Deputy Chairman of the Kadavu provincial Council relayed the decision after a meeting of traditional leaders at Samabula this morning.

He said the issue of the newlook GCC would await the outcome of a High Court legal challenge by suspended GCC members is completed.

Relaying the decision to the chiefs of Kadavu yesterday new Deputy Chairman Alikisadra Naisoro said in Kadavu the buck stopped with the chiefs.

Chiefs discuss new-look GCC
Thursday, May 22, 2008

THE 14 chiefs of Kadavu met yesterday to discuss their stand on whether or not to join the new-look Great Council of Chiefs.

Roko Tui Kadavu, Osipate Tuicakau confirmed that the chiefs would say their verdict to the GCC taskforce team today.

The chiefs meeting or the bose vanua which was to be held at yesterday afternoon at the Fijian Teachers Association boardroom in Knollys Street, Suva, was cancelled at the 11th hour.

The chiefs from the nine district of Kadavu did not disclose to the media their meeting venue by yesterday afternoon. The GCC taskforce team will be led by Ratu Josetaki Nawalowalo, the former Kadavu provincial chairman.

Ratu Josateki who was chairing the Kadavu provincial council for the last six years lost the chairmanship to his close relative, Ratu Varani Rayawa.

Ratu Josateki confirmed that they would present at Jubilee Hall today and the the council would also hear from the National Council for Building a Better Fiji officials.

Naisoro: Kadavu is least developed
ROBERT MATAU
Thursday, May 22, 2008

KADAVU contributes much to the economy yet it is the least developed province in Fiji.

These were the sentiments of Kadavu Provincial Council's new deputy chairman and Kadavu-based businessman Alikisadra Naisoro.

Mr Naisoro was appointed unopposed to the position of deputy chairman after he missed out on the position of chairman which went to Ratu Varani Raiyawa the Takalai Nakasaleka and outgoing deputy chairman.

Mr Naisoro, one of the largest yaqona farmers in his district of Ravitaki, said he wanted to concentrate his efforts as deputy chairman on developing the lives of people on the island.

"I will not take a political stand in this position and whichever Government comes in I will ask them to help in developing the island for our people," he said.

The former Rewa Rice chief executive and university graduate said he was happy to be appointed as deputy chairman.

He said he would have preferred that a chairman resided on Kadavu as that was where all the development efforts were being held and that he lived on the islands and would help to influence some important decisions.

"I am a Kadavu grog farmer currently I am the chairman of the Ravitaki Tikina Council.

"I will not take sides whichever government comes in and I will ask them to support development for our people."

He said it was important that the same officials who ran Government services on Kadavu were present at the meetings so they could effectively gauge the progress of development programmes on the island.

"In our meetings the norm is that issues sa kau cake (have been taken up) this meeting will be held in May and the next will be in December. The usual response we get in the follow up meetings would be sa kau cake so for eight months you mean to tell me se kau cake tikoga (we are still taking it up)."

Ratu Varani appointed Kadavu chairman

Ratu Varani appointed Kadavu chairman
www.fijilive.com - 21 MAY 2008
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Nakasaleka chief Ratu Varani Rayawa has been appointed the new chairman for the Kadavu provincial council at a meeting in Suva today.

Ratu Varani was appointed to replace Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo, who held the position for three years.

According to council member, Ratu Sela Nanovo, Ratu Varani was unanimously voted to take the position.

“We are very happy that Ratu Varani has the position and we wish him a very good term.”

Meanwhile, Ratu Sela said that the Bose Vanua O Kadavu will decide today whether they support the new promulgation of the Great Council of Chiefs and also the People’s Charter.

“This will be done at the Fijian Affairs Board room today but we will go in with an open mind.”

Tui Cakau Queries Voreqe's comment

by SERAFINA SILAITOGA

Friday, May 16, 2008

THE Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has questioned where interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama's comment is coming from regarding his call for provincial councils to reconsider their stand on the People's Charter and the changes to the Great Council of Chiefs.

Ratu Naiqama said the decisions made by provincial councils represented the views of the Fijian people from grassroots level.

He said Fijians lived communally and the decisions made by the councils were the collective views of the people.

"As such, it is difficult to fully understand where Bainimarama is coming from in terms of trying to force issues to the people to accept what they put forward especially when we still have our freedom to accept or reject their proposals or issues.

"What the people want matters and whether they reject or accept is a decision by them and whatever decisions provincial councils have made is not made by the chiefs only but a collective decision of all Fijians at village meetings to district level and provincial level."

Ratu Naiqama said people's freedom was not at stake as the Constitution was still intact.

However, he said it would be hard to expect the interim regime to accept the decisions by the provincial councils because it was not an elected government.

"The regime was not voted by the people so it's hard to determine whether they will accept or respect out decisions made on their proposals."

He said it was important to understand the Fijian structure in order to get an idea of how decisions are made.

Meanwhile, Cakaudrove has rejected the People's Charter and Fiji's former High Commissioner to the UK, Emitai Boladuadua, is the new Cakaudrove provincial council chairman.

He replaces Sitiveni Rabuka who returned the post despite being nominated.

Mr Boladuadua said major development plans were included in his vision for the province.

Tui Cakau queries Voreqe's comment

SERAFINA SILAITOGA
Friday, May 16, 2008

THE Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has questioned where interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama's comment is coming from regarding his call for provincial councils to reconsider their stand on the People's Charter and the changes to the Great Council of Chiefs.

Ratu Naiqama said the decisions made by provincial councils represented the views of the Fijian people from grassroots level.

He said Fijians lived communally and the decisions made by the councils were the collective views of the people.

"As such, it is difficult to fully understand where Bainimarama is coming from in terms of trying to force issues to the people to accept what they put forward especially when we still have our freedom to accept or reject their proposals or issues.

"What the people want matters and whether they reject or accept is a decision by them and whatever decisions provincial councils have made is not made by the chiefs only but a collective decision of all Fijians at village meetings to district level and provincial level."

Ratu Naiqama said people's freedom was not at stake as the Constitution was still intact.

However, he said it would be hard to expect the interim regime to accept the decisions by the provincial councils because it was not an elected government.

"The regime was not voted by the people so it's hard to determine whether they will accept or respect out decisions made on their proposals."

He said it was important to understand the Fijian structure in order to get an idea of how decisions are made.

Meanwhile, Cakaudrove has rejected the People's Charter and Fiji's former High Commissioner to the UK, Emitai Boladuadua, is the new Cakaudrove provincial council chairman.

He replaces Sitiveni Rabuka who returned the post despite being nominated.

Mr Boladuadua said major development plans were included in his vision for the province.

Tailevu Says No to Illegal Charter and GCC Changes

Tailevu province rejects NCBBF, GCC
15 MAY 2008
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The Tailevu Provincial Council has rejected the National Council for Building a Better Fiji and does not want to have any part in it.

As well, it has rejected the taskforce report on the reconstituted Great Council of Chiefs.

The decision was relayed to the NCBBF media team led by Bau chief Adi Finau Tabakaucoro today, after it made a presentation to the council.

The decision was in the form of a statement signed by another Bau chief Ratu Epenisa Cakobau and a spokesman for Tailevu chiefs – Ratu Veiwili Komaitai.

Journalists who are covering the meeting are not allowed inside the Ratu Cakobau House but Fijilive was reliably informed that the decision was reached last month on Bau during a Bose Vanua (chiefs’ meeting).

The same meeting decided to reject the report of the GCC task force team.

Tailevu has decided to retain its three representatives to the GCC - Ratu Epenisa, Ratu Timoci Vesikula and Ratu Semi Seruvakula.

No immediate comments could be obtained from the NCBBF or the GCC team after the presentations.

GCC task force chairman Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo could only say that the province was expected to discuss the issue further.

The two-day Tailevu Provincial Council meeting ends tomorrow.

Tui Cakau Apology

Tui Cakau accepts apology from senior subjects

SERAFINA SILAITOGA

www.fijitimes.com - Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, left, holds court at the Cakaudrove Provincial Council meeting.

TEARS and solemn moments marked the opening of the Cakaudrove chiefs' meeting yesterday as chairman and former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka asked their paramount chief Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu for forgiveness.

With tears flowing down his face, Mr Rabuka in a solemn and respectful tone asked Ratu Naiqama to forgive him and Roko Tui Cakaudrove Ravuso Wainiqolo for organising the provincial council meeting at Yaroi Village last year, which Ratu Naiqama did not want.

In presenting their soro, Mr Rabuka admitted that it was wrong of him and Mr Wainoqolo to organise the meeting and entertain the Great Council of Chiefs committee at Yaroi.

He said even after organising the events, he used to hear and read messages from Ratu Naiqama in the media over his disappointment.

This, Mr Rabuka said, did not scare him but made him determined and humbled to come forward and present a matanigasau for his wrong.

He told Ratu Naiqama that word from Valelevu which he heard in the media only spoke of how powerful and respected the Tui Cakau's position was and for any Cakaudrove person to hear such words, it meant that he was cared for by their high chief.

Mr Rabuka said this was what brought him forward yesterday to present his matanigasau.

In forgiving them, Ratu Naiqama told them they hurt him when they organised a meeting last year and said that such actions were not chiefly and something Cakaudrove was not known for.

Formalise law

SERAFINA SILAITOGA

www.fijitimes.com - Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, yesterday reminded the chiefs of Cakaudrove of the importance of gazetting their village laws to prevent disputes.

His comment came in response to a question from Tui Kama Ratu Seru Taqali, who queried the legality of village laws.

Ratu Seru said they had set a law in the village of Buca to discipline those who made unnecessary noises.

He told the meeting there were two categories of disciplinary measures for noise created by drunkards and and people behaving in a drunk and disorderly manner in the village.

Ratu Seru said people living in the village but not registered in the Vola ni Kawa Bula were warned thrice if caught making noise.

If they failed to adhere to the warnings, they would be told to move out of the village permanently, he said, adding they would not be allowed to return at any time.

For people registered in the VKB, Ratu Seru said if they failed to obey the three warnings, they would be told to move out of the province for five years.

Ratu Seru said this had been the practice in the village in past years but he wanted advice from the chiefs on the procedures to legalise the village law.

Former chairman Sitiveni Rabuka told the chiefs it was important for them to legalise village laws.

He said it was important because if the law was not accepted by the villager accused, he or she could sue village elders particularly when they had the right to live in their village of origin.

Ratu Naiqama urged the chiefs to form a draft of village laws in their respective districts and take it up to provincial level meetings so it could be submitted to higher authorities to enable legalisation of the village laws. Ratu Naiqama urged the chiefs to bury the past.

Regime’s GCC loses support

Regime’s GCC loses support - www.fijilive.com
14 MAY 2008
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The interim regime looks unlikely to garner the two-third support it needs from the provincial councils to convene the Great Council of Chiefs next month.

So far, seven of the 14 provinces have rejected changes to the GCC brought by the regime. They are Rewa, Namosi, Naitasiri, Lomaiviti, Ra, Cakaudrove and Nadroga

More are expected to follow suit before the end of this month.

This according to the paramount chief of the Burebasaga confederacy illustrates the unity of chiefs in the country not to be part of this initiative by the interim Government.

Ro Teimumu Kepa said the seven provinces within her jurisdiction will not support the changes to the GCC too.

“Whatever they are asking of us will not be fulfilled,” she said.

Meanwhile, the provinces of Macuata, Bua, Lau, Kadavu and Serua have yet to decide on their stand.

The Ba province is split. Tui Tavua Ratu Ovini Bokini’s court challenge of his ousting as GCC chair played a major role in Ba’s decision.

There are strong indications that Tailevu, which holds its Provincial Council meeting tomorrow, will also reject the interim Government’s initiatives.

As it is, the new criteria for membership to the reconstructed GCC omit certain high chiefs.

These include Ratu Bokini, the paramount chief of Namosi Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, the paramount chief of Cakaudrove Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, the paramount chief of Nadroga, Ratu Sakiusa Makutu, Ro Teimumu Kepa, Serua high chief Ratu Penaia Latianara, and Bau chiefs – Adi Samanunu Talakuli Cakobau, Adi Litia Cakobau, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, Ratu Jope Seniloli and Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi.

Many other chiefs who have yet to be traditionally installed do not qualify.

According to the GCC taskforce chairman, Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo, chiefs will need to be installed before entering the august body.

He told Fijilive that 80 per cent of chiefs in the country have yet to be traditionally installed.

He also said the first meeting of the GCC, scheduled for the end of June, will still go ahead despite most of the provinces rejecting it.

“It doesn’t matter, as long as we have two-thirds of the chiefs joining the council before June, the meeting will go on.”

“We are confident that we will get the numbers before then,” Ratu Josateki said.

Last week, Ratu Josateki said the meeting may not be held in June as a lot of requests were made by chiefs for changes to be made to the GCC promulgation.

However, today he said: “The choice is theirs but if they want to play a waiting game then that’s fine because the council will still go ahead”.

Meanwhile, Ro Teimumu said she has urged all the provinces within her confederacy not to take part in the GCC under the new laws.

The Namosi chiefs’ council or ‘bose vanua’ two weeks ago were told that they have been requested by Ro Teimumu not to be swayed easily and remain steadfast.

Lawyer Ratu Savenaca Komaisavai who is challenging the GCC promulgation in court has indicated that the new law has brought confusion to the traditional Fijian system.

Komaisavai said it is a shame that the paramount chiefs have been excluded by the new GCC law.

“The interim government doesn’t know that the cream of chiefs in the country have been left out and this shouldn’t happen because people will only listen to their high chiefs,” he said.

Kadavu ‘supports GCC, People’s Charter’
14 MAY 2008
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Great Council of Chiefs taskforce chairman and Kadavu chief Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo says his province is unified in its support for the new changes to the GCC and the proposed People’s Charter.

He has rubbished claims by critics that the province was split over these initiatives by the interim Government.

“Kadavu is one and we have made a stand that we will support the interim Government,” Ratu Josateki said.

He also confirmed that Kadavu was the first province to support the interim Government when it came to power in 2006.

“We were the first ones to agree with the interim Government because we want change and change is coming,” the Kadavu chief said.

He said that the province would always support any government which is in power.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s an illegal or democratically-elected government we will support it,” Ratu Josateki said.

“Even though we don’t condone coups we should be more realistic and thank the government of the day and learn from our mistakes.

“The more we resist governments the more we will suffer so that’s why we will always support the government of the day.”

Ratu Josateki said the interim Government has done a lot for the people and the provinces and being disrespectful to them is not a wise choice.

“We should be thankful that they have done a lot for us and bring about change to the country so why don’t we give them a chance,” he said.

Ratu Josateki said that Kadavu would never side with any province in resisting the interim Government.