Fijian unity is Fiji’s unity

www.fijidailypost.com - 13-Feb-2008

WHEN the Fijian people are disunited, Fiji itself becomes a disunited nation. As Abraham Lincoln pointed out 150 years ago, the nation divided, like ‘a house divided against itself’ (Gospel of Mark), cannot stand, cannot be successful, and cannot sustain itself into prosperity. The key to Fiji as a nation is what it has always been: harmony and unity among the Fijian people themselves.

The Fijian people are presently exposed like so many strands of waka root drying in the sun. Each strand is potentially powerful, but each lies differentiated from the other. There are strands of tribalism, of religious difference, and of political variation. There are strands of rank and class, of hierarchical birthright, and of police and military power. There are strands of differentials in experience, of professional achievement, of educational qualification, and of occupational prestige.

Each strand would wither in the sun if left too long, or grow mouldy in the rain if not attended to with due vigilance. So, like drying waka roots, the multi-stranded Fijian people await their moment. When that time of maturity comes, the people will be gathered up, pressed together and wound into a tight and powerful sevusevu as an offering to the nation. Until this unity of indigenous presence and power are realised, there can be no unity of effect of benefit to anyone else. Progress for the nation depends upon a single offering of atonement, not a conflictual and competing series of Fijian visions.

If we are to have a People’s Charter for the nation, how can it be even adumbrated without a corresponding and prior ‘charter of vanua unity’ (for want of a better term) among the Fijian people? A single strand of waka will quench someone’s thirst, but it cannot produce a tanoa of blessing for all. The effect across the board will not be there.

There can only be enough mana to go around when the sevusevu as a whole is presented as a whole – not strand by strand. And obtaining that cohesive unity does not require similitude; it requires respect for difference. It does not require remaking each other into our own preferred image; it requires faith in the fact of each other’s difference.

National harmony and progress toward a common set of goals will be possible when respect for difference flows from the Fijian collective consciousness rather than being injected into it.

A strand of waka naturally gives up its properties and does need to be mixed with artificial alien additives for its effect. Similarly, the Fijian people have it within themselves to create a better Fiji; they just need to listen and yield to ‘the angels of (their) better natures’ (as Abraham Lincoln once put it) in order to get the job done.

Yadua cheers turtle tagging

www.fijitimes.com - Thursday, February 07, 2008

TOP: Yadua park ranger Pita Biciloa, right, with Josaia Sukaloa take measurements of the nesting Hawksbill in the background+ Enlarge this image

TOP: Yadua park ranger Pita Biciloa, right, with Josaia Sukaloa take measurements of the nesting Hawksbill in the background

By Jone Niukula of The National Trust of Fiji and Sainivalati Navuku, WWF Fiji Country Program

ATTEMPTS over the past two years to locate and tag a nesting turtle in Fiji bore fruit last month.

The collaborative effort of the National Trust of Fiji, the community of Yadua, SPREP (Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program), NOAA (National Ocean & Atmospheric Administration) and WWF has been the climax of on-going efforts over past years to protect an endangered cultural icon.

Yadua community celebrates

turtle tagging

North-east of Yadua Taba Island (in Bua province and a famous iguana sanctuary) on a secluded beach locally known as Talice, a nesting Hawksbill turtle was located.

The turtle was spotted by National Trust officer Jone Niukula and other members of the team as they made their way to an adjacent beach to await nesting turtles and carry out research work.

This was the final attempt during this nesting season, to locate and tag a Hawksbill nester, a first for Fiji.

The sight of the turtle tracks on the beach triggered excitement among the research team.

Pita Biciloa, the park ranger on Yadua manoeuvred his boat in an attempt to channel through a small passage to get to Talice. Against all odds, the team managed to secure the boat ashore, their excitement and enthusiasm fuelled even more, as they approached the turtle tracks on the beach and heard loud "swooshes" the sound of sand being scattered as the Hawksbill started to dig in on the beach.

The sound of waves crashing on the beach, as if to applaud and cheer the turtle and lighting flashes on the horizon as darkness began to swallow the earth was the most majestic greeting to this ancient sea reptile as it crawled up to land to nest after decades of navigating the seas.

This (nesting) is the only time that turtles are found on land. It is highly possible that the 88.8cm Hawksbill is a hatchling of Yadua returning after more than 25 years to the beach of her birth to transfer her genetic code into the future.

The Hawksbill was named Marama ni Yadua by the villagers, who expressed great emotion at seeing the turtle lay its eggs and with the attachment of the satellite tag, said this would be an unforgettable experience for them. A small church service was conducted before the turtle was released into the sea with the hope to see it return to Yadua in years to come.

Fiji's first satellite tagged turtle

The excitement generated out of locating the nesting turtle on Yadua stems from the fact that this is Fiji's first satellite-tagged turtle.

It has become increasingly difficult to find nesting turtles in Fiji, hence the team reacted promptly and set off to Yadua with the satellite tag donated by SPREP.

Turtles are known to nest (lay eggs) from November through to March. Thus, over the holiday period, several other teams were conducting nesting beach work around Fiji including the Mamanuca group, Koro Island and Yadua.

The surveys are part of Fiji's Sea Turtle Recovery Plan a document developed by various stakeholders to address key threats that are contributing to the decline of the turtle population in Fiji.

Implementing these activities has been greatly assisted by funds that were raised through the 2007 Inaugural Turtle Ball.

Marama ni Yadua has been transmitting signals since the satellite tag attachment and the team expects to receive a plotted map this month. Around the region, satellite telemetry work has enabled several Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) such as Samoa, the Cook Islands, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia to track the migration of turtles that nested on their beach. Several of the telemetry results illustrate a westward trend of migration, with turtles tagged in three of the countries/territories listed above migrating to Fiji.

Fiji's healthy seagrass meadows and coral reefs are hot spots for turtles to feed.

One famous illustration of this type of work was the migration of Lady Vini a female Hawksbill tagged in Samoa in March 2006 and then moved through the Exclusive Economic Zones of 6 PICTs before entering Fiji in October 2006, where the signal died.

For several years now, turtle migration has been tracked through various tagging methods including titanium flipper, passive internal transponder (PIT) or satellite tags.

Titanium flipper tags are the more commonly employed method as it is relatively inexpensive. However, data retrieval is entirely dependent on the serial numbers being reported to the relevant authorities by those who come across turtles carrying the flipper tags.

Based on these reports, authorities are then able to plot the path the turtles take on their migration.

Tui Labasa Dispute

Chiefly subjects seek pardon

Thursday, March 13, 2008

THE people of Labasa yesterday shed communal tears when they sought the forgiveness of their high chief, Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma, for hurting her through words and acts over past months.

At the bose vanua in Naseakula Village, in the North, the turaga ni mataqali Tuatua, Nemani Tomasi could not hold back his tears as he led the people to the forgiveness ceremony.

Speaking in Fijian, he asked Adi Salanieta to forgive them for the hurt her people had caused.

Mr Tomasi offered a tabua (whale's tooth) and a feast as a token of atonement and requested.

He also promised the day would be the beginning of a new relationship between the people and their chief.

Adi Salanieta was formally recognised by the Native Lands Commission two weeks ago.

Although the Drauna family, the faction that challenged the chiefly title did not attend the ceremony, Mr Tomasi said the ceremony was being done for the vanua of Labasa.

Adi Salanieta accepted the apology and encouraged the vanua to work together and acknowledge God in everything they did.

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Adi Salanieta said she was humbled by the ceremony.

She said that the ceremony meant unity and brought about oneness to the vanua.

Adi Salanieta encouraged her people to work together as a family and in unity.

Silence prevailed as people shook her hand and made peace with each another.

District reps and chiefs of the vanua were glad that such a reconciliation ceremony amongst the vanua was held, saying this would help in achieving goals set for the district of Labasa.

The meeting was its first ever since the ruling of the Native Lands Tribunal Appeals last month. It ruled Adi Salanieta as rightful holder of the chiefly title of Tui Labasa.

A meeting of the tikina held at Naseakula Village decided that Adi Salanieta would be installed on October 31.

The meeting agreed it needed to fulfil its traditional obligation as Adi Salanieta's name had been gazetted as the Tui Labasa, following the tribunal's ruling. Labasa district rep Paula Maleau said the vanua would approach the kingship of Caumatalevu at Naduri Village and inform them about the decision.

"It is part of Fijian protocol because by right, the Tui Macuata always serves the grog of bowl to the Tui Labasa and that is why we have to approach him and ask him to perform this highly respected duty in installing our chief."

Tui Labasa to officially claim her seat

SERAFINA SILAITOGA

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

THE Tui Labasa, Adi Salanieta Lomaloma, will be installed on October 31.

This was agreed at the Labasa tikina bose vanua yesterday at Naseakula Village in the Northern Division.

District chiefs and church leaders agreed that Adi Salanieta should be traditionally installed after the Native Lands Commission tribunal ruled in her favour last month.

The meeting agreed that the vanua needed to fulfil its traditional obligation as Adi Salanieta's name had been gazetted as the Tui Labasa, following the tribunal's ruling. Labasa district rep Paula Maleau said the vanua would approach the kingship of Caumatalevu at Naduri Village and inform them about the decision.

"It is part of Fijian protocol because by right, the Tui Macuata always serves the grog of bowl to the Tui Labasa and that is why we have to approach him to inform and ask him to perform this highly respected duty in installing our chief."

The traditional practice, known as vakagunuvi, will involve the Tui Macuata, Ratu Aisea Katonivere.

Mr Maleau said they would approach Ratu Aisea to ask for his presence at the installation and give Adi Salanieta his blessings.

Last month, the tribunal found no evidence in the claim by Ratu Epeli Drauna and his faction which resulted in the tribunal ruling in favour of Adi Salanieta.

The tribunal announced that after looking through documents made available to them and the ones kept in their records, they reached a decision that Adi Salanieta was the true holder of the title.

The two factions that belong to the same mataqali of Wasavulu have been on a stand-off since the decision by the NLC in 2006 which ruled in favour of Adi Salanieta.

Tribunal settles Tui Labasa title dispute

SERAFINA SILAITOGA

Friday, February 29, 2008

Adi Salanieta with her close family members and friends+ Enlarge this image

Adi Salanieta with her close family members and friends

TUI Labasa Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma has retained the chiefly title of the Vanua of Labasa after the Native Lands Appeals Tribunal found no evidence to support the claim staked by Ratu Epeli Drauna and his people.

The tribunal yesterday announced that after sifting through documents made available to them and the ones kept on their records, they reached the decision that Adi Salanieta was the true holder of the chiefly title. Speaking in Fijian, tribunal chairman Ratu Inoke Seniloli said the reasons of the appeal put forward by the Drauna family had no evidence to support it.

He said the documents that NLC had and the ones presented by the claimant faction and the vanua of Labasa did not support the reasons of the Drauna family.

After announcing the rightful holder of the title, Ratu Inoke urged the two groups to make peace and reconcile.

He told the meeting that publicising such issues in the media had become a practice of the modern day something the Fijian's forefathers treasured and never made known publicly except to discuss within their own mataqali.

Defeated claimant Ratu Epeli thanked the tribunal for its decision and said he would visit Adi Salanieta to make peace with her.

He said he would want to reconcile with her and the people of Nasekula Village and make a new start.

Adi Salanieta said that in the next vanua meeting, she would ask the chiefs to organise a reconciliation ceremony for the people of Labasa.

"I feel it's important and we need to do that so that we can put the past behind and start afresh and look after one another as a family and as villagers of Nasekula," she said.

The two factions that belong to the same mataqali of Wasavulu have been involved in a dispute since the decision by the Native Lands Commission on July 28, 2006 ruling in favour of Adi Salanieta.

D-Day for Tui Labasa title

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

THE Native Land Appeals Tribunal will announce the right holder of the Tui Labasa title today.

Tight security will be provided by police during the judgement to be delivered at the Commissioner Northern's office.

Deputy divisional police commander northern Superintendent Anand Narayan could not be reached for a comment but two senior officers said security would be provided.

The chiefly title is being claimed by a faction of the mataqali Wasavulu headed by the Drauna family, of which the present Tui Labasa, Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma, is a member.

Two factions of Nasekula Village in Labasa in Macuata province have been on a stan-off since the Native Lands Commission ruled in favour of Adi Salanieta on July 28, 2006.

Representatives of the two factions and 18 clans of the tikina of Labasa made presentations at the first appeals tribunal hearing this month.

Yesterday, spokesman for the Drauna family, Maikali Drauna, said they would accept any decision made by the tribunal.

The tribunal is chaired by Ratu Inoke Seniloli and co-chaired by Ro Epeli Mataitini and Ratu Solomone Buaserau.

At the first hearing, Ratu Inoke had told the two factions that all the presentations submitted would be considered before they made a decision

Tui Labasa issue

www.fijitimes.com - 12 Feb 2008

Faimanu Mua's account on the origin of the current Qomate family in your paper (FT 8/2) is way off the mark and a feeble attempt at trying to prove that their Rotuman connection was maternal.

Siblings Ratu Viliame Baleilevuka, Adi Salanieta's father and his sister Adi Tui were children of Ratu Viliame Lautiki and Donalesi McGoon and not of Rotuman woman Rosarine and a son of a Tui Labasa as claimed by Mua.

Ratu Lautiki was born to Raobe Lailai, Gagaj Varomua's son and Adi Losalini Watimasirewa of the chiefly clan Wasavulu.

Meanwhile Timoci Delana's defence of Stan Whippy (FT 7/2) has somewhat indicated an indirect admission of the widely held perception that current claimant Salanieta Tuilomaloma is of Rotuman paternal bloodline.

This is the principal reason as why we have strongly appealed against her being declared as Tui Labasa because chiefly titles are normally passed down the paternal bloodline.

We still hold the view that Ratu Epeli Katonivualiku Drauna's claim to the title is legitimate not only by way of his bloodline but also because of the fact that about 90 per cent of the chiefly Yavusa Wasavulu which comprises of three mataqali's render him support.

We can only pray that the truth prevails.

MAIKALI DRAUNA

Labasa

Rotuman link to Tui Labasa title

SERAFINA SILAITOGA

Friday, February 08, 2008

AS the dispute over the holder of the Tui Labasa title escalates, a woman claims the Rotuman blood link to the chiefly family was through the maternal and not the paternal side.

According to distant relative Faimanu Mua, her family has evidence and pictures of how the people of Malhaha in Rotuma traditionally welcomed Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma Ritova and Ratu Viliame Ritova, and descendant Rosarine, a woman of Rotuman chiefly rank.

A faction that appealed the Native Lands Commission decision that the chiefly title rightfully belonged to current holder Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma, had claimed at the NLC Appeals Tribunal hearing this week that the chiefly family had links to Rotuma through the paternal side.

But Ms Mua, whose aim was to clear the air on the issue, said that in the 1900s, her grandfather Gagaj Varomua' Muamea travelled to Fiji from Malhaha to learn to speak English and to return with his uncle Tukaha who had left the island to dive for pearls.

"My grandfather, while in Fiji, found himself a job as a sailor where they travelled to islands around the country delivering water," she said.

"On one of these trips, he was told of how a tafaga (Rotuman canoe) drifted towards Labasa and remained there."

The story goes that the natives of Labasa slaughtered everyone on the canoe except for a young woman called Rosarine and her elderly father.

Ms Mua said when her grandfather Gagaj Muamea heard about this, he travelled to Labasa and asked to be taken to Naseakula Village where he found Rosarine.

"But by this time, her name had changed to Losalini and she was old and she told my grandfather their sad story and that she was married to the Tui Labasa's son at that time," she said. "My grandfather promised to return to the village to take her to Rotuma but when he returned in the 1920s, Losalini had died and her two children Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma Ritova and Ratu Viliame Ritova were there.

"These two then came to Rotuma and were accorded full traditional ceremonies and my mum still has pictures of that function when Adi Tui and Ratu Viliame as they are known to the people of Malhaha, visited the village."

Ms Mua said the two were taken to Malhaha by the people of Naseakula, some of whom remained in Malhaha where they found jobs at the copra plantation of Ono and Gasta.

"I know that some people in Naseakula Village will still remember this and in the 1960s, my mum, who is still alive and 94 years old, attended the funeral of Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma Ritova at Naseakula Village."

Qomate challenge

Letter to Fiji Times Editor 7Feb 2008

Maikali Drauna's letter (FT 4/2) and his challenge to Stan Ritova to admit to the "truth" of his Rotuman heritage show a deep-seated prejudice based on a mythical notion of Fijian racial purity and homogeneity.

If we applied Mr Drauna's logic that the present Tui Labasa, Adi Salanieta, has no claim to the title of Tui Labasa because her great-great-grandfather was Rotuman, then Queen Elizabeth II has no right to claim the throne of England because her great great-grandfather, the Prince Consort, Alfred, was German.

For heaven's sake, Mr Drauna, give us a break.

My readings tell me that we Fijians are a mixture of Melanesian and Polynesian stock and we are genetically linked to the aboriginal people of Taiwan from whence we originated.

Some of us might not like this idea but hey, that's what the scientific evidence tells us.

Recent research into mitochondrial DNA confirms indigenous Fijians have the highest genetic diversity of all Pacific Island peoples and the ancestral mother of all indigenous Fijians living today, was wait for it Polynesian.

Linguistically, Fijians also have a closer affinity to Polynesians than they have with their cousins in Melanesia. Dr Paul Geraghty can expound more on this.

In light of these facts, my immediate reaction on reading Mr Drauna's letter was "... so what then, is so alien about Adi Salanieta's great, great-grandfather being Rotuman (if indeed he was) when the facts show extensive gene flows between Polynesians and Melanesians in the indigenous Fijian makeup"?

If we look around us today many of the chiefly families in Fiji as well as ordinary Fijians, have either Samoan, Tongan, English, Scottish, Irish, Chinese or even Indian blood in their veins (and I contend they are better persons for it).

So too does Adi Salanieta, if indeed she has the blood of a noble Rotuman chief in her veins.

She has conducted herself thus far in the good grace that I expect of a bona fide Fijian marama which confirms to me that she is indeed descended from a chiefly line.

But it seems Mr Drauna and his group won't allow these facts to stand in the way of their prejudice which must have a deeper motive.

Nonetheless, what this issue demonstrates is that indigenous Fijians do suffer from an identity crisis that is loaded with false perceptions of racial purity where we insist on homogeneity, scientific facts to suggest diversity.

We have been programmed by British colonialism to believe we are a special people, superior to other people in the Pacific, when in reality we are very much part of them, albeit a highly diversified version of the rest of our own kind which probably explains our present confusion and political travails.

For me, as a Fijian from Tailevu, I do think while our cultural values are basically patrilineal we should acknowledge and promote our matrilineal or vasu bloodlines because they have so much to offer in terms of enriching our own lives.

Culture is an evolving phenomenon and if we don't change with the times, we will be doomed.

Timoci Delana

Sydney

Qomate legacy

I AM amazed by the special editorial privilege accorded to Stan Ritova, also known as Stan Whippy, in an article he wrote titled 'Defending the Qomate legacy' (ST 20/1).

The author has a direct interest in the Tui Labasa title dispute which is the central issue at stake here.

What Stan has smartly concealed or may have tried or deliberately ignored in his defence of his cousin Salanieta Tuilomaloma as the legitimate claimant to the title, is their Rotuman origin, which is why the latter's contention is being vigorously challenged.

It is a known fact within the yavusa Wasavulu and Caumatalevu that the male bloodline of the Labasa warrior Qomate is extinct.

Native Lands Commission chairman Ratu Viliame Tagivetaua was explicitly explained this by the sauturaga of the Vanua of Labasa, Maika Raiqiso, when an inquiry into the dispute was held at Nasekula in July, 2006.

Stan and Salanieta are from the male bloodline of Rotuman chief Gagaj Varomya of Malhaha who was rescued from sea by Kia people and brought to Vuo. He married a princess from Caumatalevu by the name of Adi Mairara who gave birth to a son named Raobe Lailai. Raobe married a woman from the chiefly clan of Wasavulu known as Adi Losalini Watimasirewa.

They had a son named Viliame Lautiki who married a part-European from Kadavu, Donalesi McGoon, and had two children Ratu Viliame Baleilevuka, who was Salanieta's father, and Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma, Stan's mother.

This blood connection is well known in Rotuma and I challenge Stan to come forth with the truth.

Maikali Drauna

Labasa

Defending the Qomate legacy

www.fijitimes.com - Sunday, January 20, 2008

Labasa was defended by Ratu Tevita Qomate against marauding tribes The fight for the position of Tui Labasa has been on going for generations with two family members of Labasa's chiefly Mataqali Wasavulu, the Draunas and the Dimuris, forever vying for a position they know is not theirs traditionally.

The current holder is Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma Qomate Ritova of the Qomate clan, who has been officially declared by the Native Land and Fisheries Commission (NLC) in Suva, as the rightful holder of theTui Labasa title. But this has been challenged by factions of Labasa's chiefly mataqali (land owning unit) of Wasavulu and the NLC appeals tribunal is sitting in Labasa on February 8 to hear the appeal.

Adi Salanieta succeeded her younger brother, Ratu Joeli Tinai Ritova, when he died in 2004. Ratu Joeli in turn succeeded his older brother Senator Ratu Tevita Qomate Ritova, who passed away prematurely in July 1997.

I am their first cousin because my late mother, Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma Qomate, and their late father, Ratu Viliame Baleilevuka Ritova, were siblings and the recognised paramount chiefs of Labasa when their father, the then Tui Labasa, Ratu Viliame Lautiki died in the late 1800s.

He was allegedly killed by Fijian sorcery (draunikau) administered by his enemies, according to my information which I've explained in my book, which is in the throes of completion.

Ratu Viliame Lautiki was the son of Ratu Tevita Qomate, the true paramount chief of Labasa, and who was a descendant of the adventurous and colourful chief Ratu Ritova. He was one of the two chiefs from Macuata province who signed the Deed of Cession ceding Fiji to Queen Victoria in October 1874. The other chief was Ratu Katonivere, whose great-grandson, Ratu Aisea Katonivere, is the current Tui Macuata.

Ratu Tevita Qomate was adored and revered by the people of Labasa because he defended them repeatedly against marauding tribes who tried to conquer Labasa and never did.

He was reported to have been seriosly wounded during one of those conflicts and was taken to his island of Yanuca situated between the two Labasa rivers, the Labasa and Qawa rivers, to recover. Labasa Town is on banks of the Labasa River and the Fiji Sugar Corporation sugar mill is on the Qawa River.

Where were the other so-called chiefs claiming the Tui Labasa title, when Ratu Tevita Qomate was busy defending Labasa and her people in those early wars?

For their qusi ni loaloa (the Fijian custom of washing off of the war paint) and in gratitude for his leadership, the people of Labasa presented him with just under 1400 acres of some of the best land in Labasa listed officially in the records of the Native Land Trust Board and the NLC as the land of the Descendants of Qomate. And that is proudly us my first cousins and I and a surviving half brother plus all our children and grandchildren.

I think this is a unique situation in the annals of the NLTB and NLC and we treasure it.

In actual fact the people of Labasa also presented Ratu Tevita Qomate with all their fishing rights because the NLTB and NLFC records show that the Labasa fishing rights belong to Qomate and is listed as Qomate's Fishing Rights, which extend seaward to the main sea reef from the Wailevu river just south of the Labasa river mouth,and northwards from there to the Mataniwai river.

The records are there for public information.

Other factions of Wasavulu Mataqali muscled in after Ratu Viliame's Lautiki's tragic passing and took over the position of Tui Labasa and ruled without any people because the people continued to recognise my mother, Adi Salanieta and her brother, Ratu Viliame, as their chiefs and have contined to do so with us, their children.

About 60 years later in 1975 my first cousin, Ratu Tevita Qomate Ritova, later appointed a Great Council of Chiefs Senator representing Macuata province, and the eldest son of my mother's brother, was named Tui Labasa, returning the title to its true owners, but only after official intervention.

The late Ratu William Toganivalu, who was Minister for Fijian Affairs at the time, intervened and recalled Colonel George Mate who had just retired in 1975 as Chairman of the NLC and requested him to "straighten out" the situation which he did.

I know this because I was involved.

Col Mate ruled then and informed the elders of Mataqali Wasavulu, many of whom have since passed on, that only the direct descendants of Ratu Tevita Qomate as head of the mataqali were entitled to the title of Tui Labasa and no one else. Period.

The descendants of these family factions who are now claiming the title, know this but have chosen to ignore the information.

Ratu Tevita's installation was a historical and colourful affair in the rara (village green) of Nasekula, the chiefly village of Labasa, in June 1975.

The Tui Macuata at the time, Ratu Raio Katonivere, assisted by his close relative and also high chief of Macuata, Ratu Vuki, and members of the chiefly clan of Caumatalevu conducted the installation ceremony and all the pomp that went with it on a typical beautiful sunny Labasa day.

The fact that the Tui Macuata agreed to conduct the ceremony was in itself evidence that he recognised and believed the true holder of the chiefly position.

And what's more, it had never been done before not in a long time anyway.

Ratu Tevita and I later undertook to build Ro Qomate House for the people in Labasa. This being rented to the Fiji Government for office space.

It was started in 1996 and when Ratu Tevita passed in 1997, I took it over and with the help of Ratu Joeli who succeeded him, finished it in 1998 free of charge apart from being paid for air fares from Suva to Labasa and telephone charges to show our allegiance to the vanua of Labasa and its indigenous people.

And though I live in Sydney now for the time being for the sake of convenience, my allegiance and pride for the place where I was born and lived my early life is still very strong and undying.

The records of the Qomate dynasty are available at the NLC for the public to inspect.

There is nothing sinister or secret about them.

The information was recorded during the Veitarogi Vanua in 1948 organised and administered by the late Fijian high chief and statesman, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, when he was inquiring into Fijian-owned land boundaries and fishing rights for the NLC and NLTB records shortly after he established the organisations to administer and control all Fijian-owned land.

And it is just as well he did because unfortunately there are no dedicated written records of early Fijian history and what transipred in the early days apart from early missionary records, after Christianity arrived on our shores in 1835.

Fijian family history is handed down by mouth and fortunately I took note when the aged told stories of the olden days.

I might just add for the record that during my mother's and her brother's early life they did not complain to anyone about the title of Tui Labasa being taken away from them.

They just carried on with the work of the vanua spending their personal earnings from the six-monthly proceeds of rent from the descendants of Qomate land on their people and their needs.

The British colonial Government recognised them and no one else as the paramount chiefs of Labasa.

We, their surviving children, were also brought up on this money and were well cared for.

In actual fact we did better than most but my mother was always concerned about her people who adored her, visiting them regularly in the 43 villages in the district at the time with me as a young boy, in tow.

Our mode of transport was by taxi as there weren't any buses back in those days the late 1930s, the 1940s and 1950s. It was just after the cart and horse era. I am afraid it is always the colour of money that inspires people to claim something that is not theirs.

The appeals tribunal is going to sit in Labasa next month. The question the tribunal should ask these pretenders is, "where are your people and whom do you represent?" Simple.

Meanwhile, the Tui Labasa, Adi Salanieta is in Suva preparing for the NLC appeals tribunal and has engaged the services of top Suva lawyer, Wendell Archibald, to represent her and the Qomate family. "Meanwhile, life goes on," she said.

Stan Ritova

Fijian Chiefs Installation Lagging

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

MORE than 3000 customary positions in Fiji are yet to be filled, the Native Lands and Fisheries Commission said.

In a statement it said installations were carried out depending on the call of the vanua, adding that there was no particular number of installations that could be carried out in a year.

The commission said there were four disputes that were yet to be settled this year.

Army commends Eddie

ANA NIUMATAIWALU
Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Lance Bombardier Edward Lilo receives his award from Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel SL Humphrey of the British Army+ Enlarge this image

Lance Bombardier Edward Lilo receives his award from Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel SL Humphrey of the British Army

EVERY year our young men and women sign up to join the British Army as they look abroad for employment opportunities that are getting scarce locally.

For many joining, the British Army is a dream come true as you get the chance to travel the world and see places that you would only see at the movie theatres or on television.

On the same note it is also another way of these young men and women get a chance to help their families back home here in Fiji.

It's a job not for the faint hearted but at the same time these young men and women do get recognised for their efforts and contribution to the service.

Many tend to shy away or take the award or recognition brushing it off as just something anyone would do if placed in the same position or doing what they are paid for and expected to do.

One such example is Lautoka lad Edward Lilo, who received a certificate of commendation for his contribution to the Coalition Mission in the Multi National Forces while serving in Iraq last year.

Edward serves as a Lance Bombardier and is based at Tidworth in the United Kingdom.

For Edward at the time of his applying to the British Army it was the 'in thing' that he and most of his school mates from Natabua High School saw as the next best option to further education or finding a job locally.

"Back in high school I and two close friends would sit in the corner scratching our heads wondering what excuses to give our parents during parent's day when they saw our poor grades," remembers Edward.

"My dad had asked me what I wanted to do but I always knew what I wanted to do ever since I was in high school.

"It was either join up with the British Army or stay in Lautoka with my other friends scratching our heads around the place," he said.

Edward said he would remember his father would be worried about him because everytime he would see Edward he would see his other two close friends from school.

"They would call us the three musketeers and were worried that we would not get married or have children because we would be following each other around all the time,"

At a time when employment opportunities in the country are so few we are losing our young men and women to the British Army.

Edward, 25, grew up in Lautoka and is the second eldest of four children of Tina and Rollan Lilo of Waiyavi a neighbourhood known to house many part-European families.

Edward hails from a family that is more known for the hockey players it has produced for the country.

He was educated at Lautoka Primary School before completing his secondary education at Natabua High School.

After finishing secondary school, Edward applied to the British Army at the height of the 2000 crisis.

The kai Ra lad got the call up to join the army the following year but when he got there they found out he was too young to apply.

"So I had to stay with a Fijian family while I was there until I turned 20 to enlist in the army," he said.

"The award came as a surprise because I was just carrying out my duties.

"I got the award while serving out in Iraq.

"In the citation the army said the award was fully deserved and was in recognition of my sterling work.

"They said I made an outstanding contribution to one of the brigade's key strike capabilities.

"The citation said while working a 17-hour day with a punishing work schedule I had used my own initiative to provide care and support to younger soldiers, organised sporting and stimulating activities on the gun position.

"But everyone worked exceptionally hard across the deployment. It's a big award and will be in my records forever," he says proudly. He has served with the British Army for six years. Out of the 5500 soldiers serving in the British Army only six received the same commendation that was awarded to Edward.

Back off, chiefs tell regime

www.fijitimes.com - Tuesday, February 05, 2008

THREE chiefs have cautioned the interim Government over the appointment of a President.

Bua chief Ratu Kinijoji Vakawaletabua said most Fijians were not ready for a non-Fijian President, let alone a commoner.

Speaking from his village in Dama, he said he would rather die than see a change in leadership.

Ratu Kinijoji said many things affecting Fijian institutions and Fijian leadership in the country had been changed.

He said the Great Council of Chiefs had been suspended and the Ministry of Fijian Affairs downgraded to a department.

The only thing the Fijians could look up to was the Presidency, he said.

Ratu Kinijoji warned if that was taken away from Fijians, then nothing would be left for chiefs and Fijians to aspire to in terms of leadership in this nation.

Rewa paramount chief Ro Teimumu Kepa said the point was not whether the next President was a Fijian or a chief.

It was about letting the Great Council of Chiefs choose the best person for the job, she said.

"In my view, I don't really know where we are heading to," she said.

"These changes that the interim administration is doing regardless of whether it's constitutional. They just do whatever they want."

Ro Filipe Tuisawau said people in Fiji should understand the basic rationale of the GCC choosing a Fijian President.

"That is to recognise and appreciate the role of the Fijian chiefs," he said.

"The Fijian people and their chiefs have played a key role in the building of the modern nation state of Fiji and their role in directly choosing one of their own as the President is recognition of this.

"It was a political settlement and is politically correct and any pragmatic person can understand this."

He said the President's Office represented the unity of traditional Fiji and the modern state.

"The key to all our on-going problems is to return to democratic rule as soon as possible and for the regime to stop creating legal minefields as it created too many already," he said.

Ratu Ovini Bokini, the former GCC chairman, said he had no comments to make.

Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, the turaga na Qaranivalu from Naitasiri, declined to comment.

Efforts to get a comment from Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu proved futile yesterday.

10 October 1874: Chiefs sign Deed of Cession of Fiji to Great Britain

Instrument of Cession of the Islands of Fiji by Thakombau, styled Tui Viti and Vuni Valu, and by the other high Chiefs of the said islands to Her Most gracious Majesty Victoria, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, &c &c &c:

Whereas divers of the subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland have from time to time settled in the Fijian group of islands and have acquired property or certain pecuniary interests therein; And Whereas the Fijian Chief Thakombau styled Tui Viti and Vuni Valu and the other high native chiefs of the said islands are desirious [sic] of securing the promotion of civilization and Christianity and of increasing trade and industry within the said islands; And Whereas it is obviously desirable, in the interests as well of the native as of the white population, that order and good government should be established therein; And Whereas the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs have conjointly and severally requested Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland aforesaid to undertake the government of the said islands henceforth; And Whereas in order to the establishment of British government within the said islands the said Tui Viti and other the several high chiefs thereof for themselves and their respective tribes have agreed to cede the possession of and the dominion and sovereignty over the whole of the said islands and over the inhabitants thereof and have requested Her said Majesty to accept such cession,- which cession the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs, relying upon the justice and generosity of Her said Majesty, have determined to tender unconditionally,- and which cession on the part of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs is witnessed by their execution of these presents and by the formal surrender of the said territory to Her said Majesty; And Whereas His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, Knight Commander of the most distinguished* order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor Commander in Chief and Vice Admiral of The British Colony of New South Wales and its dependencies, and Governor of Norfolk Island, hath been authorised and deputed by Her said Majesty to accept on Her behalf the said Cession: Now These Presents Witness:

1. That the possession of and full sovereignty and dominion over the whole of the group of islands in the South PaciÞc Ocean known as the Fijis (and lying between the parallels of latitude of fifteen degrees South and twenty two degrees South of the Equator and between the Meridians of longitude of one hundred and seventy seven degrees West and one hundred and seventy five degrees East of the meridian of Greenwich) and over the inhabitants thereof, together with the possession of and sovereignty over the waters adjacent thereto and of and over all ports harbours havens roadsteads rivers estuaries and other waters and all reefs and foreshores within or adjacent thereto, are hereby ceded to and accepted on behalf of Her said Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland her heirs and successors, to the intent that from this time forth the said islands and the waters reefs and other places as aforesaid lying within or adjacent thereto may be annexed to and be a possession and dependency of the British Crown.

2. That the form or constitution of government, the means of the maintenance thereof, and the laws* and regulations to be administered within the said islands shall be such as Her Majesty shall prescribe and determine.

3. That, pending the making by Her Majesty as aforesaid of some more permanent provision for the government of the said islands His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, in pursuance of the powers in him vested and with the consent and at the request of the said Tui Viti and other high Chiefs the ceding parties hereto, shall establish such temporary or provisional government as to him may seem meet.

4. That the absolute proprietorship of all lands not shown to be now alienated so as to have become bona fide the* property of Europeans or other foreigners or not now in the actual use or occupation of some Chief or tribe or not actually required for the probable future support and maintenance of some chief or tribe shall be and is hereby declared to be vested in Her said Majesty her heirs and successors.


5. That Her Majesty shall have power, whenever it shall be deemed necessary for public purposes, to take any lands upon payment to the proprietor of a reasonable sum by way of compensation for the deprivation thereof.


6. That all now existing public buildings houses and offices, all enclosures and other pieces or parcels of land now set apart or being used for public purposes, and all stores fittings and other articles now being used in connection with such purposes are hereby assigned transferred and made over to Her said Majesty.


7. That on behalf of Her Majesty His Excellency Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson promises (1.) that the rights and interests of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs the ceding parties hereto shall be recognised so far as is and shall be consistent with British Sovereignty and Colonial form of government, (2.) that all questions of financial liabilities and engagements shall be carefully scrutinized and dealt with upon principles of justice and sound public policy,
(3.) that all claims to title to land by whomsoever preferred and all claims to pensions or allowances whether on the part of the said Tui Viti and other high chiefs or of persons now holding office under them or any of them shall in due course be fully investigated and equitably adjusted.

In Witness whereof, the whole of the contents of this instrument of Cession having been, previously to the execution of the same, interpreted and explained to the ceding parties hereto by David Wilkinson Esquire, the interpreter nominated by the said Tui Viti and the other high chiefs and accepted as such interpreter by the said Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, the respective parties hereto have hereunto set their hands and seals.


Done at Levuka this tenth day of October, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy four.

Cakobau R. Tui Viti and Vunivalu (Seal)

Maafu (Seal)

Hercules Robinson (Seal)

Tui Cakau (Seal)

Ratu Epeli (Seal)

Vakawalitabua Tui Bua (Seal)

Savenaca (Seal)

Esekele (Seal)

B. V. Tui Dreketi( Seal)

Ritova (Seal)

Kato-nivere (Seal)

Ratu Kini (Seal)

Matanitobu (Seal)

Nacagilevu (Seal)

I hereby certify that, prior to the execution of the above Instrument of Cession - which execution I do hereby attest - I fully and faithfully interpreted and explained to the ceding parties the whole of the contents of the said document, the interlineations appearing on line 33 of page 1 and on line 30 of page 2 having been Þrst made, and that such contents were fully understood and assented to by the said ceding parties. Prior to the execution of the said instrument of Cession I wrote out an interpretation of the same in the Fijian language, which interpretation I read to the Tui Viti and other high chiefs the ceding parties, who one and all approved thereof.
A copy of such interpretation is hereto annexed marked A.
Dated this tenth day of October, A.D. 1874.

D. Wilkinson
Chief Interpreter
The interpreter named in the foregoing instrument of Cession