Great Council of Chiefs public consultations in Nadi. Photo: Fiji Government
All eligible Fijians around the world can participate in the review of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) and have a say in what form the new chiefly council takes.
That is the word from GCC Review Committee chairman Ratu Jone Baledrokadroka.
Dr Baledrokadroka said it was critical that they hear all submissions, whether they are positive or otherwise, from all Fijians who are 16 years and above.
He told RNZ Pacific that Fijians, wherever they are in the world, could be part of the review through the online options made available through the different government websites.
There have been positive feedbacks already, he said.
"We are in fact catering for this group of people who are perhaps in the Fiji diaspora all over the world. We have online surveys, questionnaires that are now available on various websites.
He said the response to the has been "great".
"We are getting a lot of responses, especially amongst the young group from ages 16 to 35 years old, so we do implore the diaspora and all interested to use social media and online questionnaires that we put out," he said.
Dr Baledrokadroka leads a team that includes Bau island high chief Ratu Timothy Tavanavanua, Fijian academic Dr Eci Nabalarua, lawyer Graham Leung, Malakai Naiyaga, Mereani Rokotuibau and Dr Apisalome Movono.
He said the review process is transparent and the team will present their findings to the Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts Ifereimi Vasu at the end of July or early August.
Dr Ratu Jone Baledrokadroka Photo: Ministry of iTaukei Affairs
Widespread consultation
The review was approved by the Cabinet following the decision of Sitiveni Rabuka's coalition government to reinstate the chiefly body which was disbanded by 2006 coup leader turned elected prime minister Frank Bainimarama.
In the past, the GCC has been accused in the past of bias towards advocating for indigenous Fijian policies in politics.
Dr Baledrokadroka's team aims to find out what the wider populations thinks about re-establishing the council.
So far, the review team has held consultations in two out of the 14 provinces, which is the province of Rewa and Ba, which is the largest province in Fiji.
"We have another 12 provinces to go including consultations with wide sectors of the community, different ethnicities, church groups, schools and tertiary institutions," he said.
"There has been a lot of interest generated and the submissions that are coming in shows that there is a large section of those that have been consulted so far are quite responsive to proposal by government to reinstate or re-establish the Great Council of Chiefs."
Dr Baledrokadroka admitted majority of the consultation has been among mostly indigenous or dedicated groupings, such as the provincial councils, the iTaukei in the villages and districts.
But he said at the same time they have also started consultations with local district advisory groups, which consists of Indo-Fijians.
He said they had also received a lot of support for the GCC plans.
"What we have seen is that they are quite pleased also to see that they have been consulted on a very important matter to do with the indigenous Fijians."
"It is quite surprising that they are also pleased to see that the GCC is being reinstated and support for the proposal to reinstate the GCC by the government is quite positive. As far as they are concerned, they want it to be reinstated."
Great Council of Chiefs Review Committee. 12 April 2023 Photo: Ministry of iTaukei Affairs
Reporting back
The Review Committee will make a presentation at the first GCC meeting on Bau Island which is scheduled for May 24-25.
It will be the first such gathering of chiefs since the coup of 2006.
Dr Baledrokadroka's team are expected to use the opportunity to update the chiefs present about the progress of their work and also allow the chiefs the opportunity to submit their views.
"That is part and parcel of this review. The GCC that will sit on the 24th and 25th of this month will give us the opportunity to do a presentation to them and also soliciting their views as to the proposed new setup or the re-established GCC."
The team will this week visit the provinces of Serua and Namosi, Nadroga and Ra.
They will move to Fiji's second biggest island Vanua Levu next week and receive submissions from the three provinces of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata.
