Fijians should ‘refrain from traditional obligation’

Fijians should ‘refrain from traditional obligation’
http://www.sun.com.fj/ - 6/16/2008

Fijians have to first get away from traditional thinking for them to become successful in the commercial sector, Fiji Chamber of Commerce president Swani K Maharaj.
Mr Maharaj was responding to calls made by Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi that business community should take the responsibility of mentoring Fijians in a more viable and organised manner to be successful in business.
“This idea will work but Fijians will have to make an effort themselves,” he said.
“They need to get away from traditional thinking only then, they will be able to succeed in the business world.” Mr Maharaj said in business, one has to be shrewd.
“It is difficult for Fijians to get into business because of their traditional obligations,” said Mr Maharaj.
“They have a traditional thinking of giving and it will be difficult for them to refrain from this tradition and I believe, business is only for those who have the conviction and the drive to make into the business world.”
Mr Maharaj suggested for Fijians to direct their attention into commercial farming.
“They have land and this is one area of business that Fijians will succeed in,” he said.
“They should plant their land and sell to bigger companies.
“If they do this, they will continue to have cash.”
Ratu Joni earlier said while Fijians wished to participate in the commercial world, they are simply reluctant to abandon the costly rituals and obligations that are such a part of the Fijian social life.

Cakaudrove Province Won’t Send Names

Cakaudrove Province Won’t Send Names
www.fijivillage.com - 12/06/2008

The province of Cakaudrove will not be sending the three names of the chiefs to represent the province in the Great Council of Chiefs meeting in August.Tui Cakau's Spokesperson Ratu Jekesoni Yavalanavanua confirmed they will not change their stance as discussed in the Bose Vanua last month in Somosomo. They will await the court's decision on the challenges by the ousted GCC members against the interim government, before they move forward.During the Bose Vanua, the chiefs and the province disregarded the new GCC promulgation and the Peoples Charter process.

Chief faces eviction

Chief faces eviction
http://www.fijitimes.com/ - FREDERICA ELBOURNE - Thursday, June 12, 2008

Ratu Loco Qiolevu of the Matanikutu clan holds the original Native Land Commission document and the eviction letter at his home in Tamavua.
A CLAIMANT of the Qaranivalu title has warned half of Suva to prepare for eviction if he is removed from land he claims is his.
Ratu Loco Qiolevu lives at the top of Cunningham junction and yesterday claimed he was being evicted from his land by a disgruntled faction of his tribe.
"I am the head of this tribe, the Matanikutu, and they dare ask me to leave?" he asked.
An eviction letter signed by lawyer Akuila Naco served to him this week gave him 21 days to vacate. If he does not go, he would be charged with trespassing.
Ratu Loco claims he took a sworn oath during an inquiry by the Native Lands Commission in April 1997 where he became the legitimate holder of the title Turaga na Qaranivalu which is bestowed on Naitasiri's paramount chief.
"There was an objection period of 90 days after I took the sworn oath but no one objected so I settled here. But 11 years later, there is objection. In my ancestral lineage, I come from the head of the tribe of the Qaranivalu.
"I am a direct descendent. I am the turaga i taukei, turaga ni matanikutu in the district of Naitasiri. I am the paramount chief of this place. If anyone wants to evict me, they have to prepare to move themselves because I am the boss. This is my land. If I move, they move too. All the embassies in Suva should prepare for eviction if my detractors are prepared to evict me. All the businesses, Tamavua hospital, radio telephone satellite, all will go when I go because I gave them this land."
Ratu Loco said those bent on evicting him were jealous of him.
"These people have their own traditional duty. One tribe mixes my grog, another cuts firewood and so forth. They don't know what they're doing and don't know who they're dealing with. They don't even know who they are. They need to study themselves and my background to understand where I come from."
Ratu Loco said he raised his concern with the interim Prime Minister's office yesterday and was assured the matter would be dealt with.
A spokesman for PM's office said Ratu Loco met with them.
Meanwhile, Mr Naco said last night the NLC had affirmed and installed Ratu Inoke Takiveikata as the Qaranivalu.
NLC chairman Ratu Viliame Tagivetaua said Ratu Loco was residing on land which belonged to Kalabo.
"Ratu Loco's land is in Navuso."
Ratu Viliame said he would comment further on the matter today

Bau prepares home for new Vunivalu

Bau prepares home for new Vunivalu

www.fijilive.com - 11 JUN 2008

Islanders on Bau are busy maintaining a historical building ahead of the installation of the Vunivalu - the paramount chief of Kubuna confederacy.‘Vunirara’ was used to accommodate Prince Charles in 1970 when Fiji gained independence.The building is expected to be the residence of the new Vunivalu.Former Vice President Ratu Jope Seniloli told Fijilive that before all the historical buildings on the island was repaired and maintained by government but it has stopped.When asked whether the Government is providing money for the maintenance, he said in Hindi “Kuch nai, khali pathar” meaning “nothing, only stones”.Ratu Jope said that the maintenance is done by the Bau people, not the Government.The title of Tui Kaba was once held by Ratu Seru Cakobau, the ‘King of Fiji’ who ceded the country to Great Britain in 1874 and is considered by many as Fiji’s highest-ranking traditional chief.

New GCC won’t get our mandate: Kepa

New GCC won’t get our mandate: Kepa

http://www.fijilive.com/ - 10 JUN 2008

Rewa high chief Ro Teimumu Kepa is adamant that the new-look Great Council of Chiefs proposed by the interim Government will not get the mandate of the chiefs.The GCC taskforce, which is consulting the 14 provinces and Rotuma have so far only got the support of the Macuata Provincial Council.Kepa suggests that the high chiefs are unhappy about the tactics employed by the interim Government.“It’s inevitable that the taskforce and the interim Government are trying to force these changes and sweet talk us through,” she said.“Burebasaga has made it clear that we will not be part of this new changes to the GCC and if they want our support then reinstate those who were in the council before.“By moulding and bringing in new changes to the council will not change the way we feel.”Kepa and other high chiefs who were members of the former GCC prior to its suspension last year will not qualify to sit in the reconstituted GCC.The interim Government has set new rules to prevent the politicisation of the august body.However, Kepa said the taskforce will not succeed in their mission to reconvene the GCC if chiefs are not automatically reinstalled in the council.Taskforce chairman Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo maintains that the council will sit in two months time even if it does not have the support of the disgruntled chiefs.“It is evident that some chiefs are trying to sabotage this meeting by influencing others not to join but let me make it clear that this meeting will go on.”Ratu Josateki said some chiefs have declared their interest in joining the council.

Plans Underway To Install Vunivalu

Plans Underway To Install Vunivalu

www.fijivillage.com - 09/06/2008

Plans to install the new Vunivalu are now underway.Discussions are currently underway among members of the Tokatoka Vunivalu and Mataqali Tui Kaba and this will follow the normal tradition to appoint the Vunivalu, who is the paramount chief of the Kubuna confederacy.Speaking to Fijivillage from Bau island, the Tunitoga who is the Vunivalu's traditional spokesman, Ratu Veiwili Komaitai said two meetings have already been held with the members of the tokatoka. He said they had cordial discussions on the matter and he is expecting to call another meeting soon.The five likely contenders for the title are Ratu George Kadavulevu, Ratu Joji Cakobau, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, Adi Samanunu Talakuli Cakobau and Interim Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau's great grandmother was Ratu Seru Cakobau's sister. Ratu Seru was the self proclaimed King of Fiji and he ceded Fiji to Great Britain in 1874.The Tunitoga, Ratu Veiwili Komaitai said according to the tradition only males have been appointed to the chiefly position and this could mean that Adi Samanunu may be excluded from holding the title. According to tradition, members of the mataqali Tui Kaba decide among themselves who should be installed as the Vunivalu before the Roko Tui Bau traditionally installs the Vunivalu. The Roko Tui Bau Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi currently holds the kingmakers title.The Vunivalu title has been vacant for more than 20 years. The title was last held by the late Vunivalu and former Governor General Ratu Sir George Kadavulevu Cakobau who passed away in 1989.

Namosi Province seeks rental solution

Province seeks rental solution
www.sun.com.fj - 6/7/2008

The company responsible for the affairs of a provincial house in Suva hopes Government finds a resolution soon regarding the rental payment for the house.
The Namosi Provincial Development Company wants an amicable solution found soon on the rental agreement regarding the Namosi House.
Company chairman Ratu Kiniviliame Taukeinikoro said the situation was complicated
“Kadavu House had signed a tenancy agreement with the interim Government which meant that rent had to come in because there was a contract, even though there was no tenant” he said.
“With the Namosi House, we are operating on a Memorandum of Understanding between the council and the Government, but unfortunately, the interim Government refuses to acknowledge that.”
He said there would be a meeting with government officials on Wednesday and he hoped a solution would be found.
Ratu Kiniviliame said the initial agreement with the interim Government was to have them pay $25 per foot of space, but Government has requested that $25 be reduced to $24, something the Namosi Provincial Development Company can’t accommodate.
“We have to make repayments to our lender and our repayment is in accordance with the $25 per foot,” he said.
“The bottom line is, something needs to be done about the situation or we just might lose the building.”
Another provincial house had initially gone through the same problem but that has been solved after it chose to end its agreement with its tenants.
The interim Government paid close to $1million to Kadavu Holdings Limited in order to end its tenancy agreement over Kadavu House on Victoria Parade.
A clause in the contract says that if the tenant wanted to end the agreement it would have to pay six months’ rent from January to June this year.

Commission to settle Bau chief title

Commission to settle Bau chief title

www.fijilive.com - 07 JUN 2008

Bau island chiefs are expected to meet the Native Land Commission next week to discuss matters surrounding the installation of their high chief. The title of Tui Kaba was once held by Ratu Seru Cakobau, the ‘King of Fiji’ who ceded the country to Great Britain in 1874, and is considered by many as Fiji’s highest-ranking traditional chief. Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, one of the contenders for the title confirmed they will meet with the commission next week. He did not specify the reasons for the meet but said that the NLC will play an integral part in accommodating his Kubuna confederacy before and during the installation. The commission, established in 1880, has the power to settle disputes about the head of a matagali (clan). Ratu Epenisa also said that three other contenders, Ratu George Kadavulevu, Adi Samanunu Cakobau, and Ratu Epeli Nailatikau are still very much in the race for the title. “Talks are still ongoing but nothing has been decided yet until we meet the tribunal,” he said.

Bole to retrieve Deed of Cession

Bole to retrieve Deed of Cession
Friday, June 06, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com

THE official Fijian interpretation of the Deed of Cession would be handed over to the interim National Heritage Minister Filipe Bole in Levuka today.
Mr Bole left for Levuka with a government delegation yesterday afternoon.
A statement issued by the Department of Information yesterday said the document would be brought back to Suva for tests and possible restorative works at the National Archives of Fiji.
The document was discovered by chance when the government archivist heard of the presence of a so called "Fijian Deed of Cession" during a meeting with other heritage custodians and he made inquiries.
The archivist had visited Levuka and confirmed that the document was the authentic document.
The statement said the authenticity of the document was later confirmed by sighting of the other original held at the National Archives in the United Kingdom.
Mr Bole will make a traditional presentation to the Tui Levuka before proceeding to Nasova, the site of the signing of the Deed of Cession for the handing-over ceremony by the Tui Levuka.

Parliament needs to approve 50-year lease: Qarase

Parliament needs to approve 50-year lease: Qarase

6/3/2008

The legality of granting agricultural leases of 50 years is doubtful if not approved by Parliament, says ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.
He was reacting to a statement by the interim Sugar Minister Mahendra Chaudhry that the Native Land Trust Board was considering extending the term for agricultural leases to 50 years.

“Agricultural leases are essentially governed by the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Act,’’ he said .

“ ALTA is entrenched legislation and provides for agricultural leases of 30 years only. Sp extending the lease period to 50 years will require an amendment to ALTA through a specific majority in parliament.”

He said Mr Chaudhry had continued to ignore the interests of landowners when it came to the land issue.

He said ALTA provided for agricultural land rent of up to 6 per cent of the Unimproved Capital Value of land.

He said this land rent was one of the lowest in the world and he questioned Mr Chaudhry’s intention of opposing an increase to 10 per cent of UCV.

Mr Qarase said Mr Chaudhry wanted to continue to marginalise landowners while favouring the tenant community which comprised his political power base.

“Mr Chaudhry may argue that government has agreed to subsidise land rent by 4 per cent of the UCV of land, thus increasing rent income to 10 per cent of the UCV land,” said Mr Qarase.

“This is fine but it is only a temporary solution. The long term solution would be to amend ALTA to increase rent to 10 per cent of UCV.”

Mr Qarase said the public should know that in 2005, the Soqosoqo Duvata ni Lewenivanua government had introduced an ALTA Amendment Bill to extend agricultural lease terms to not less than 50 years and increase rent to 10 per cent of UCV.

This Bill was strongly opposed by Mr Chaudhry and his Fiji Labour Party.

“Given his latest assurances to canefarmers in the North, he has already started his campaign for the next general elections at the expense of taxpayers,’’ he said.

“Apart from this promise of 50-year leases he has also promised massive government assistance to cane farmers. In doing so Mr Chaudhry has marginalised the interest of landowners.”

Stop relying on State’s fund: Tui Namosi

Stop relying on State’s fund: Chief

6/3/2008

A chief has called on his people to stop relying on the interim government’s funds for development.
Speaking at the Namosi Provincial Council meeting yesterday Tui Namosi Ratu Suliano Matanitobua said that it better for the people to utilise their resources.

He pointed out that they have many resources to utilise and people should stop asking the interim government for money.

Ratu Suliano is a former government minister in the ousted SDL government.

At the Bose vanua, last month Namosi chiefs had decided not to support the new changes in the GCC promulgation 2008 and the proposed People’s Charter for Change, Progress, Peace and Prosperity.

Blls Not Racist: say Qarase

Fiji Village News

Ousted prime minister and leader of the Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party Laisenia Qarase stressed that policies like the Qoliqoli and Indigenous Claims Tribunal bills are not racist and he still aims to implement them when they come back into power.

Qarase said the proposed legislations are necessary for the protection of the resources of the indigenous Fijians and there is nothing racist about it.

Although the military has stressed that the bills dealing with the Qoliqoli and Indigenous Claims Tribunal were racist policies, Qarase said there is nothing wrong with the proposed legislations.

Qarase is hoping the SDL will return to power as he has a passion for the protection of indigenous Fijian rights and property and he has unfinished business to complete. However, he stressed that the protection of indigenous Fijian rights does not mean that the other communities will be ignored as their rights will also be protected.

Vunivalu title talks ‘progress smoothly’

Vunivalu title talks ‘progress smoothly’
03 JUN 2008
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Talks to determine the rightful holder of the chiefly Vunivalu of Bau title are progressing smoothly between the chiefly families of Kubuna, Fijilive has established.

One of Bau’s chiefs, Ratu Tu’uakitau Cokanauto told Fijilive that talks were continuing with no exact timeframe set on when to wrap up talks with an expected concrete outcome.

“The chiefly families of Kubuna have been meeting and these talks have been ongoing. It’s going smoothly,” Ratu Tu’uakitau said.

“And it is progressing though we do not expect any decision to be made so soon,” he added.

Fijilive had earlier established that two meetings had taken place on Fiji’s chiefly island last month.

Suva lawyer Savenaca Komaisavai, who has close links to Bau, confirmed to this news web portal that the contenders for the title are: Adi Samanunu Talakuli Cakobau (Fiji’s former High Commissioner to Malaysia), her younger brother Ratu George Kadavulevu Cakobau, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau and interim Foreign Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

Ratu Tu’uakitau said the families wanted to meet and hold thorough and consultative meetings to discuss issues on the title of the Vunivalu of Bau, a title that had been vacant since 1989 after the death of the last Vunivalu, Fiji’s first local Governor General Ratu Sir George Cakobau.

He said the meeting would not involve the Tailevu Provincial Council reasoning: “It is none of their business”.

It is understood that recent moves to fill the post have been prompted by the policy of the current administration to only include traditionally installed chiefs in the Great Council of Chiefs.

The Native Land Commission may have to adjudicate on the matter if the Bau chiefs do not agree on a name.

One of the contenders to the title, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, told Fijilive that he would meeting officials from the NLC today.

Land owners to close water

Land owners to close water
SERAFINA SILAITOGA
Saturday, May 31, 2008

A GROUP of landowners who had $5000 of their lease money deducted two weeks ago will close off the land where the main water catchment area for Labasa town is located.

Members of the mataqali Luvutu of Nasealevu Village said the decision was made after the Native Land Trust Board refused to refund their money.

Spokesman Solomone Tubou said they would close off the area next week.

The action will cause disruption to water supply to residents of Labasa.

Last week, NLTB north manager Joreti Dakuwaqa said they could not refund any money because they had to recover the overpayment of lease made to the landowners last year.

The landowners had given an ultimatum of 21 days for NLTB to refund the lease money or they would block the Nasealevu water catchment.

Mr Tubou said mataqali members did not receive a single cent from lease payment two weeks ago.

He said the NLTB deducted $5000 to recover an overpayment of $10,000 made to the clan last year.

Mr Tubou said it was not their fault and the NLTB should not have deducted the full amount and should have consulted them first.

"There are four mataqali in one yavusa in our village and one is extinct so last year, we received, for the first time payment allocated for the extinct mataqali.

"The four mataqali are Luvutu,Vatuwa, Nasealevu and Navuilagi which is extinct.

"The other three mataqali were allowed to receive the extinct mataqali lease payment of $46,000 a year which we received for the first time last year."

Mr Tubou said the three mataqali were to receive $16,000 each but when payment was made, mataqali Luvutu and Vatuwa received $26,000 while Nasealevu received $16,000.

"So two mataqali were overpaid by $10,000 in November and when our lease money arrived two weeks ago, the NLTB deducted the total sum of $5000 which is not fair as it was not our fault in the first place," Mr Tubou said.

Chief questions role of GCC

Chief questions role of GCC
Tuesday, May 27, 2008-www.fijitimes.com

A chief of Bau has questioned what real difference the Great Council of Chiefs and the Fijian administration have had on the lives of Fijian people.

Speaking at the Annual Pacific Co-operation Foundation in New Zealand, the Roko Tui Bau and former Vice-President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi said much of the issue of vision and identity related to the ambivalence of Fijians about those concepts.

"In challenging Fijian institutions such as the Bose Levu Vakaturaga, the Methodist Church and the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party, the military commander, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, has provided opportunities for reflection and soul searching.

"What real difference do the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (BLV) and the Fijian Administration (of which the BLV sits at the apex) make in the lives of ordinary Fijians," he asked

"Does the latter serve any purpose in view of the fact that the Government has responsibility for infrastructure and economic development?

"What place has the traditional system in the scheme of things?

"The Fijians themselves need to be heard on those issues."

Ratu Joni said Fijian leaders had a responsibility to listen and discern what it is they wanted.

"In what form do they wish their indigenousness (and all that attached to it) survive. My preoccupation has not been with the form and the hierarchy," he said.

"It is with the values of kinship, reciprocity and mutual respect that provide a bridge to the other communities. These are qualities that can be harnessed to enhance the vision we seek."

Ratu Joni said the stated aim of the interim regime to remove the electoral system was welcome.

"Because there is little argument that it has reinforced ethnic patterns of voting," he said.

"But the process has survived this long because all political parties were supportive of it. The concerns of some Fijians who resist any change because it would remove their ethnically entitled seats is understandable.

"But it is mistaken. The preponderance of Fijians in the population, coupled with Fijian-Indian emigration, will ensure Fijian numerical superiority in the next elections however boundaries are drawn.

"We no longer need those ethnically based seats from the Fijian point of view because their fears of being swamped no longer apply.

"However, the Fiji-Indian community may now be reconsidering the issue because under the present arrangement, they are guaranteed a certain number of seats.

"The concern now is the protection of minorities. Whether they are Fiji-Indian or from other communities, they must be guaranteed a voice in Parliament.

"The only system that assures that outcome is proportional representation."

Dalo and Taveuni

When dalo is king
Sunday, May 25, 2008

+ Enlarge this image

Naqara at about 6am before the shops open and business starts for the day
TAVEUNI is indeed an island with great potential, or to simplify the word potential, it's an island with loads of cash.

During my one week stay on my island home, young farmers in their mud-covered jeans and torn T-shirts were seen buying cell phones and other expensive material from hire purchase outlets or doing big time shopping in supermarkets at shopping centres on Taveuni.

Money earned for such big time shopping did not come from a week's work in an office, but from a few hours on a dalo farm, with the root crop packed and later sold at the local market.

Naqara which is the main shopping centre for the people of Taveuni, is a two-minute walk from Somosomo Village. It may not be called a town but it can get as busy as any town on Viti Levu.

Although shop owners may only get busy towards the weekend, taxi drivers are on their toes all the time with farmers hiring most of them for farm trips.

Taxi fare is not cheap on Taveuni but farmers afford the charges which could cost up to $40 one way or $80 return to Qeleni, $20 return to Wairiki, more then $100 return to Vuna, if your dalo or yaqona farm is there and $30 return trip to Soqulu.

But despite these high charges, taxi drivers interviewed say they are busy most days during the week.

Taxis on the island are mostly twin cabs trucks, four wheel drive vehicles and vans because of the condition of the roads.

For Mohammed Hussein, who moved from Suva two years ago to join his relatives at the Naqara settlement, his taxi business is thriving.

"I used to drive a taxi in Suva but getting jobs and earning good money was tough because there were a lot of other taxis in the city area and people also preferred to catch the bus as it was cheaper," Mr Hussein said.

"Since I moved to Taveuni, I have seen a big difference in the daily taxi earnings and farmers here have a lot of money."

He said in a day, he would take at least three trips to farms in the Qila and Matei areas or down towards Wairiki.

"And from those three trips, I can earn at least more then $100 a day apart from other short trips for other passengers," Mr Hussein said.

Farmers would leave for their dalo farms about 6am, uproot their crops according to the quantity they want and return to Naqara to sell at the market.

And with the cash received from that sale of dalo, they walk across to Court Homecentres or to Morris Hedstrom at Somosomo Village to do their shopping.

A visit to MH's newly constructed outlet saw groups of young farmers fill up trolleys to the brim with basic food items such as 10 or 25 kilograms of rice, sugar and flour, big bottles of mayonnaise, soya sauce, three to four packs of noodles, one or two buckets of biscuits, containers of ice cream, toiletries, and other expensive groceries that most people have tried to budget today because of the high prices.

After clearing their shopping at the counter, I followed two members of the group out of the supermarket and stood at the verandah to see which vehicle they would hire.

They headed towards a red Mitsubishi Pajero in the car park and loaded their shopping.

The two cousins, Petero Matai and Iosefo Batita, both in their mid 20s, are dalo and yaqona farmers who live up in Matei.

"Bula vina'a," they responded.

"You are not the first person to wonder why farmers in Taveuni have so much money but yes, dalo has enabled us to buy our family Pajero and do this kind of big shopping."

Petero, who completed his secondary education at Holy Cross College in Wairiki, six years ago said he had applied to study at the Fiji Institute of Technology to further his studies.

"I didn't get through so I just decided to stay home and help my family with the dalo and yaqona farm and I have not regretted that decision because farming has given us a lot of money.

"Maybe, if I had graduated then, I could still be searching for a job today but I still have plans to further my studies and that is why I am saving my fees from farming," Petero said.

Courts Homecentres Taveuni branch manager Uma Nand said when the price of dalo is high, the staff are always on their toes because farmers keep coming in to purchase items.

He said with the low price of dalo, most farmers now spend their cash buying cell phones.

"Last year the price of dalo was high and we were busy throughout and had good sales, but this year, the price has been low and although we are not so busy, the farmers have continued to come in and buy cell phones with cash upfront.

"Dalo farmers are our big time customers on the island of Taveuni and when the price is high, our staff are always busy. Christmas season is always our busy time," Mr Nand said.

For businesswoman Chandra Kumar who moved in from Nausori last year to run a supermarket at Naqara, sales have been better than her years of business on Viti levu.

"Before moving to this island, I used to be a wholesaler for many businesses on the island and they were my major market," she said.

"I used to get more orders and they buy in bulk from my wholesale business so when I moved here last year, I knew I was coming to operate a business in an area where high cash already existed.

"The cash flow on this island is very high and I have not regretted moving here to run my business."

Mrs Kumar said her ten wheeler trucks hired to take dalo to Suva can take 70 to 80 tonnes of dalo a week.

"Dalo has been the major source of income for Taveuni people and they earn more than what most office jobs pay.

"The people here don't bargain or ask for discount. Whatever price we put down, they buy without hesitation - that shows the kind of money they have," Mrs Kumar said.

According to reliable sources, financial institutions need to put more then $50,000 into ATMs on the island for the weekends for big spending farmers.

My removal was all planned: Chief

My removal was all planned: Chief
Last updated 5/26/2008

Great Council of Chiefs taskforce chairman Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo alleged that members of his provincial council had conspired to remove him from the province’s chairmanship position. Speaking to the Fiji Sun yesterday, Ratu Josateki said it was obvious that people within the Kadavu Provincial Council wanted him removed.
“The thing is that there were people who wanted me out,” the Kadavu high chief said.
“It was obvious that it was all planned and I was not surprised when I was voted out as chairman.”
Ratu Josateki admitted that the people of Kadavu had wanted him out because of his connection with the interim government and this was one disadvantage he had to face when he was chairman. “The disadvantage is being misunderstood for the political stance that I took. I work with whatever government that is in power. Right now the interim government is in power and they’re going to call the shots and people don’t understand this.”
He said the onus is now in the hands of the new appointees to prove that they can lead the council the way he had done for six years.
“I feel sorry for them because now they will have to prove themselves,” Ratu Josateki said.
“I hope they will and they must now think of themselves as the leader of the people and be responsible in their ways. Leaders go out to serve and not to be served. I have never asked for anything from the province. “I get peanuts out of my work when I was chairman but I was proud to lead because it was a traditional obligation.” Despite all this, Ratu Josateki said he is relieved that a responsibility had been taken away from him and he now concentrates on his work as the head of the GCC taskforce.
“Now I’m no longer leading at the provincial level but I can now concentrate on my task at national level, it is probably the time for me to move on,” said Ratu Josateki.
Under Ratu Josateki’s leadership, the province was able to construct the Kadavu House and he also was able to bail the province’s shipping vessel out its huge debt which saved chiefs from the province who had signed as its guarantor. Newly appointed council chairman Ratu Varani Rayawa said he was not sure that people had conspired against Ratu Josateki.
“I can’t say much because I’m not sure what the people of Kadavu think about this but all I know that the people of Kadavu believes that it is time for change,” he added.

Chiefly Household Attacks Kepa

Chiefly Household Attacks Kepa
www.fijivillage.com - 23/05/2008

Rewa High chief Ro Teimumu Kepa has come under attack from some members of her chiefly household for her involvement in politics.

Her Sauturaga and Lomanikoro village elder Sekove Ravoka told Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama and members of government delegation during their visit to Nadoi yesterday that Ro Teimumu Kepa is always focused on political ideas which is irrelevant to development issues which the ordinary people want.

Ravoka said he still remembers the words of the late Roko Tui Dreketi and Ro Teimumu Kepa's father that chiefs should not be involved in politics since their main responsibility is to look after the well being of the people, development and economic issues.

The Lomanikoro village elder also told the Interim Prime Minister that majority of provincial administrators are now listening to the Chairman of the provincial council which should not be the case.

Chiefly Household Attacks Kepa

Chiefly Household Attacks Kepa
www.fijivillage.com - 23/05/2008
Rewa High chief Ro Teimumu Kepa has come under attack from some members of her chiefly household for her involvement in politics.

Her Sauturaga and Lomanikoro village elder Sekove Ravoka told Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama and members of government delegation during their visit to Nadoi yesterday that Ro Teimumu Kepa is always focused on political ideas which is irrelevant to development issues which the ordinary people want.

Ravoka said he still remembers the words of the late Roko Tui Dreketi and Ro Teimumu Kepa's father that chiefs should not be involved in politics since their main responsibility is to look after the well being of the people, development and economic issues.

The Lomanikoro village elder also told the Interim Prime Minister that majority of provincial administrators are now listening to the Chairman of the provincial council which should not be the case.

GCC off if chiefs don’t support

GCC off if chiefs don’t support
22 MAY 2008 - www.fijilive.com
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The Great Council of Chiefs will not convene to appoint a Vice President if chiefs from the various provinces do not cooperate with the interim Government, Fiji’s interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said today.

“If there is no quorum then the GCC is going to be cancelled,” he told Fijilive.

This after majority of the provinces consulted so far have rejected the People’s Charter process and the interim Government’s decision to restructure the GCC.

Bainimarama, who is also the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, said it’s time that he had a good look at all the 14 provinces.

Bainimarama said being a Government body, it is the provincial council’s role to cooperate and inform its chiefs about his administration’s initiatives.

“The provincial councils do not have the right to stop the (People’s) Charter process,” said Bainimarama.

“Their work is to create awareness and not to decide for the Government”.

Bainimarama said that his Cabinet has approved that each of the chief’s councils or ‘bose vanua’ of the provinces are to nominate three representatives each to the GCC.

The new-look GCC was scheduled to convene mid-year after consultation with the provinces.

Its first role was to appoint a deputy for aging President Ratu Josefa Iloilo.

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.

Tui Cakau Accepts Apology from Senior Subjects

Fiji Times News

by SERAFINA SILAITOGA

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.

Ratu Naiqama urged the chiefs to bury the past.

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.

NLTB defends policy

NLTB defends policy

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com

THE Native Lands Trust Board has defended its policy on land leases where landowners need to apply for a title of their own land even after it is returned to them by their tenants.

NLTB manager northern Joreti Dakuwaqa said that any person who wished to lease any Native land, irrespective of whether they were landowners or not would have to lodge application using the standard forms together with other personal details.

"An expired lease cannot be transferred and as such we need to process a new lease altogether to the new lessee," Mr Dakuwaqa said.

His comment comes after the Taukei Cane Growers Association raised concern on why landowners have to apply for a lease on their own land if they wanted to use it for cultivation of cane.

They also blamed the NLTB for the high presence of idle land in the division as a result of such process.

Association president Adi Sivo Ravuwale said that such situation has discouraged landowners from cultivating land as most won't benefit from any cane payments because the land title has not been transferred to them despite the expiry of leases.

Mr Dakuwaqa said the process to transfer the title to landowners who want to farm cane on their land took approximately three months to process.

"It takes long only if certain requirements in our approval conditions are not met by the applicant," Mr Dakuwaqa said

Serua chiefs discuss NLC request

Serua chiefs discuss NLC request
08 APR 2008- www.fijilive.com
Members of the chiefly Vunivalu clan of Serua are meeting in Navua to discuss a request by the Native Land Commission for the names of installed chiefs in the province.

Roko Tui Serua Vanalagi Vesikula says the request by NLC is in relation to new laws to have only installed chiefs as members of the Great Council of Chiefs.

Vesikula adds the commission has requested that the province provide information on installed and uninstalled chiefs.

The Vunivalu of Serua, Ratu Penaia Latianara, is the paramount chief of the province.

However, close to 20 chiefs in the province have either been installed or are yet to be anointed and this is a worry for the NLC.

Serua is the smallest province in Fiji with an estimated population of 5,000.

GCC taskforce chairman Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo says Serua has a good record of installed chiefs.

“This is because the province has a lot of natural resources like logging, fishing, exporting of spring water and chains of hotels,” he said.

“So if you are not an installed chief you don’t get lease money from all these benefits and that’s the reason provinces along the Coral Coast have so many installed chiefs.”

Ratu Josateki says one of the main requirements of the Interim Government is for chiefs to be installed in all provinces.

“At the moment 80 per cent of chiefs are not installed so it’s very hard to know who’s who nowadays,” he said.

Ralogaivau Forces Sister to Sign Letter

Chiefs action upsets sister

UNAISI RATUBALAVU
Tuesday, April 08, 2008

A MEMBER of the Great Council of Chiefs taskforce team is alleged to have forced family members to sign a letter to endorse him as head of their mataqali (clan) so he could be in the Great Council of Chiefs.

Adi Rasagavi Ralogaivau, the elder sister of Ratu Filimoni Ralogaivau said she was pestered by her brother at her home in Raiwaqa to sign the letter.

Ratu Filimoni is a member of the GCC taskforce four-member team. He said he did not know about the issue when he left for Bua at the weekend

Speaking in Fijian, Adi Rasagavi said her brother went to see her last week and told her to sign the letter. When she asked him what the letter was about, Ratu Filimoni told her he will be the head of their clan in Wainunu and needed Adi Rasagavi's signature.

She said he kept on telling her to sign the letter so he could be the head of the Muanaicake clan of Wainunu, Bua.

Adi Rasagavi and her sister, Vilomena Lewakulati went and complained to the Native Land Commission chairman on April 1, and was told to write a letter.

A copy of their letter of complaint obtained by The Fiji Times was addressed to the NLC chairman, Ratu Viliame Tagivetaua. The letter, dated April 2, was written in Fijian and explained how Adi Rasagavi and Mrs Lewakulati were forced by Ratu Filimoni to endorse him head of their clan. They also stated in the letter that they had withdrawn their signature because they felt it should have been discussed by the clan before they could sign anything.

The sisters said in their letter that they were tricked by their brother.

Another close family member who wants to remain anonymous said Adi Rasagavi was older than Ratu Filimoni.

"By right, Ratu Filimoni is third in line to the title, the eldest in the family is Adi Maria Irarerevaki who is in Australia.

"The second in line is Adi Rasagavi," the member said.

The family member said three people had signed the letter and has urged other family members not to do it because it was not right.

"It is immoral and unethical, Ratu Filimoni is just doing it to get into the GCC so he can get some money," the family member said.

Ratu Filimoni denied that he went around forcing his sisters to sign the letter last week.

He said he had no knowledge of the letter and did not want to comment any further. "I don't know anything about the letter," was all he said.

Ratu Viliame said his office had received the letter and they would investigate.

He said in such a circumstance, members of a clan should be consulted and should all agree on who should be their head of clan or chief before a formal letter is submitted to the NLC


Province asked if chiefs installed

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

THE Native Land Commission has written to a provincial council to clarify whether the province's chief has been installed or not.

Roko Tui Serua Vananalagi Vesikula said he would have to liaise with the Vunivalu of Serua Ratu Peni Latianara and his clan about the issue.

"It is a sensitive issue at the moment, I have been asked by NLC to submit a report on the chiefs who are installed, including their title.

"I can only give you details once I have done my findings," he said.

This follows the criteria set by the Great Council of Chiefs taskforce team, which states that only chiefs who are installed and recorded in the NLC records can be included in the new-look GCC.

GCC team taskforce team leader Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo said the criteria would push the provinces and districts to install and formalise the heads of their clan.

"Most of the chiefly titles have been vacant for some time and this criteria will ensure that the traditional titles are filled by the chiefs," Ratu Josateki said.

The GCC taskforce is scheduled to make a presentation to the Serua Provincial Council on Thursday at Navua.

Ratu Josateki said the team would only present to the council what the State had decided on the new-look GCC and ask for the 14 councils to submit three names of chiefs they think should represent them in the chiefs meeting.

He hopes the GCC will meet in June with the chairman and interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

The taskforce team will make their presentations in the Rewa and Tailevu provincial councils next week

Historical find : Deed of Cession paper discovered

Ancient manuscript to be moved to the capital

UNAISI RATUBALAVU
Wednesday, April 09, 2008

The original Deed of Cession taken at the Fiji Museum+ Enlarge this image

The original Deed of Cession taken at the Fiji Museum

A GOVERNMENT delegation will leave for Levuka next week to bring the Fijian version of the Deed of Cession to Suva to be kept at the National Archives.

Lomaiviti provincial administrator Jese Veibuli said the Information Ministry was finalising details of the tour and a small celebration would be held in the old capital.

"The government delegation will also present a traditional ceremony to the Tui Levuka before the document is brought to Suva," Mr Veibuli said.

The importance of the document was discovered last month after it had been hanging in the provincial administrator's office all these years.

Government Archivist Setareki Tale confirmed that the 134-year find.

He went to Levuka to prove the authenticity of the document and said the document was handwritten and a quill was used.

The document would be taken to Australia for further tests.

Meanwhile, Fijian Teachers Association president Tevita Koroi said they welcomed the discovery.

"The discovery is good for students to know the importance of Fiji's history and such discovery is a good thing for us and our future generation to know.

"It is also good for this generation. Many of us did not know there was a Fijian version of the Deed of Cession and was written for our chiefs at that time to understand.

"At that time, in 1874, our chiefs were illiterate and that was how Mr Wilkinson wrote the Fijian version for the chiefs' understanding," Mr Koroi said.

Rewa chief Ro Filipe Tuisawau said that in such discoveries, we should always be cautious until it was proven by scientists.

"The discovery of the Fijian version of the Deed of Cession needs to be treated with caution. It is good that a Fijian version is on hand but the normal verification process which normally applies must be put in motion to verify its authenticity. This means that not only must the paper and ink be analysed but also the handwriting.

"This type of analysis can also be done by qualified scientists who have the tools and experience to examine historical manuscripts," he said.

Historical find : Deed of Cession paper discovered

UNAISI RATUBALAVU-www.fijitimes.com
Tuesday, April 08, 2008

A historical document, the original copy of the Fijian version of the Deed of Cession, was found in Levuka last month by government officials.

Lomaiviti Provincial Administrator, Jese Veibuli said the Government Chief Archivist Setareki Tale who went to Levuka to inspect the document confirmed it as the original copy of the Deed of Cession.

Mr Veibuli said the historical document would be taken to Suva and kept at the National Archives.

"The document is written in Fijian, in a frame hanging here in my office," he said.

"An officer with the National Heritage saw it in the office and mentioned how important it was. It was written by one Wilkinson.

"The document is a Fijian version of the Deed of Cession, it states to the chiefs what they were signing," he said

He said it was written in 1874 for Fijian chiefs to understand what they were signing.

He said the Government Archivist was contacted and he proved the authenticity of the document.

Mr Tale yesterday confirmed the 134-year-old find. "The document was in a pretty good condition considering the time it was written," he said.

"It was handwritten and a quill was used to write the document.

"I don't know the kind of paper used." The document would be taken to Australia for further tests.

Interim Minister for Education and Heritage, Filipe Bole said he would comment later.

Historian, Tevita Nawadra said the discovery was a big thing for the people of Fiji.

"That is good news and I am looking forward to seeing that document," he said.

Mr Nawadra said David Wilkinson, the chief interpreter who translated the Deed of Cession in Fijian was the first chairman of the Native Lands Commission after Fiji became a colony.

"Mr Wilkinson, used to stay in Bua and was the secretary of Ramasima, one of the chiefs in Bua at that time," he said.

"The Colonial Government was looking for someone who was fluent in Fijian and our culture, so Mr Wilkinson became the first NLC chairman," Mr Nawadra said.

He said this was something special for the people of Fiji, especially the indigenous people with the current political turmoil facing Fijian institutions.

He proposed that a big celebration be staged to highlight the importance of such a document.

The Deed of Cession was signed on October 10, 1874 by 13 chiefs of Fiji and Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, the British Government representative at Nasova in Levuka.

Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, a descendant of Ratu Seru Cakobau, one of the chiefs who signed the deed of cession, said he was eager to see the document.

"I would love to see the document and I would prefer to comment after I actually see," he said.

"I'm really happy that such a document has been found."

Tui Namosi, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua was delighted to hear the news, but preferred to comment after seeing the document.

Levuka mayor, George Gibson said he was thrilled about the discovery but at the same time sad because the document would be kept in Suva.

"I would have hoped that it remains here in Levuka, because the signing of the Deed of Cession was done in Levuka," he said. He was informed about the discovery last month and said such a document proved the history of Fiji in the pre and post colonial era.

Tui Macuata urges chiefs to sit in the GCC and lead

Tui Macuata urges chiefs to sit in the GCC and lead

Friday, April 04, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com

A CHIEF has urged other chiefs to take the opportunity to sit in the next Great Council of Chiefs meeting so that democracy returns as soon as possible.

Tui Macuata Ratu Aisea Katonivere said chiefs should think of their people and better future for everyone.

"As chiefs we should think of our people and a better future for everyone.

"We want to move on and everyone wants democracy to be restored as soon as and if this is a doorway to it, then why not grab it?" he said.

Ratu Aisea however expressed reservations on the criteria that chiefs who are eligible to join the new look GCC should be installed first.

"For us in Macuata, this title I'm holding we don't go through the installation process, it just passed down to me after my father passed away.

As for the Tui Labasa title, she will be installed and I will be a key figure in that installation process," Ratu Aisea said from his village in Naduri yesterday.

He said not all chiefs were installed because different districts and provinces had their own customs.

GCC taskforce team leader Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo said his team was mindful of the issue and would consider the chiefs who didn't get traditionally installed.

"We will refer to the Native Land Commission records on who is the rightful chief in districts and provinces. I know in some places, the chiefly title is passed down through generations

Cultural Understanding Vital

Need to understand cultures is vital says chief

Wednesday, April 02, 2008-www.fijitimes.com

Update: 10.59am TUI Macuata Ratu Aisea Katonivere yesterday told participants of a community based workshop there was a need to learn new ways of understanding people of many races, cultures and religions.

His comments come as participants at the Sustained Dailogue on Identity and Belongingness in Fiji workshop were encouraged to work towards finding a sense of belongingness and identity for the people of Fiji.

"We need to seriously survey the landscape of our mindsets and entrenches patterns of interaction from which we view ourselves as insiders and outsiders.

"Today, we can begin to recognise and acknowledge the challenges that threaten to blight our efforts of becoming a people and of building a common destiny," Ratu Aisea said.

He encouraged participants to use the seminar as a platform of bringing people together to build a better Fiji.

"This opportunity can be an opportunity for us to use to increase dialogue about issues related to identity and belongingness in Fiji.

"We readily accept ethnic separateness as normal part of our national life in a way that our mutual fears and distrust have become greater than the risks of forging real bonds of friendship, collaboration and unity," Ratu Aisea said.

Cakaudrove Supports High Chief - Tui Cakau's Stand

People stand by Tui Cakau

Wednesday, April 02, 2008-www.fijitimes.com

THE province of Cakaudrove will not join the newly restructured Great Council of Chiefs because the interim regime has already said their paramount chief, the Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu is not an eligible member.

Speaking on behalf of Ratu Naiqama, provincial spokesman and matanivanua (traditional herald) Epeli Matata said if Ratu Naiqama could not become a member of the council, it was disrespectful for other chiefs in the province to become members.

"We will not join the GCC if our high chief Ratu Naiqama cannot join because that will be disrespectful to our chief.

"In fact, we have three representatives from the province to the GCC and Ratu Naiqama is a member so if he is not allowed to join by the regime, then there will be no other reps from the province," Mr Matata said.

He said for the 14 chiefs of the province, only three were traditionally installed, including Ratu Naiqama.

"In the province, out of the 14 chiefs of the 14 districts, only three are traditionally installed including the Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, Tui Vaturova Ratu Wilisoni Matakibau and Tui Nasavusavu Ratu Suliano Naulu," Mr Matata said.

"We will only join if the regime allows our high chief to become a member of the GCC."

Mr Matata said if the regime does not change its stand, the province would not be members of the council at all.

He said the new council would not have many members as a handful of chiefs had not been traditionally installed in Fiji.

"Who are the installed chiefs in Fiji, hardly any chiefs are installed traditionally so that will definitely affect the membership of the new GCC."

"But the province all know that whatever the Tui Cakau says will be followed and according to the interim regime's review of which he cannot be a member of the GCC, the other two installed chiefs will not join also.

"This is what we call "domo dua" which is one voice and that is the voice of Ratu Naiqama and if he cannot be a member then why should other chiefs in the province join," Mr Matata said.

He said the province has not changed its stand on the People's Charter in not recognising the initiative by the regime.

"In fact we waited for a team to arrive in our tikina meeting two weeks ago and no one came because if they had come, we will tell them straight that they were not welcome in the 14 villages of the district.

"We have not changed our stand on the Charter and will remain that way as our high chiefs has said so," Mr Matata said.


GCC under scrutiny

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

A CHIEF has labelled the new-look Great Council of Chiefs as meaningless because three paramount chiefs of three provinces would be ineligible to join.

Rewa chief Ro Filipe Tuisawau said the Roko Tui Dreketi, Tui Namosi and Tui Cakau would be ineligible to join the GCC because of the seven-year stand-down period "that was designed to exclude these three and any opposed to the interim regime".

"Which other chief from Rewa, Namosi and Cakaudrove will come in? It is just designed to divide and rule and to appoint a Vice President they already have in the sidelines. Their game plan is so obvious that even kids can see it," Ro Filipe said. He added that the new-look GCC would be a puppet for the interim Government and he urged Fijian chiefs to boycott the meeting.

Ro Filipe said the new criteria set for the new-look GCC had been forced upon the people without proper consultation.

He added that the move by the interim Government was contrary to most provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Indigenous Rights.


Province snubs GCC

SERAFINA SILAITOGA
Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com

THE province of Cakaudrove will not join the restructured Great Council of Chiefs because the interim regime has already stated that their high chief, the Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, was not eligible to be a member.

Speaking on behalf of Ratu Naiqama, provincial spokesman and mata ni vanua Epeli Matata said that if Ratu Naiqama could not become a member of the GCC, then it was disrespectful for other chiefs in the province to join the council.

"We will not join the GCC if our high chief will not join because it will be disrespectful.

"In fact, we have three representatives from the province to the GCC and Ratu Naiqama is a member.

"So, if he is not allowed to join by the regime, then there will be no other rep from Cakaudrove province," Mr Matata said.

He said that for the 14 chiefs of Cakaudrove province, only three had been installed including Ratu Naiqama.

"The others are Tui Vaturova Ratu Wilisoni Matakibau and Tui Nasavusavu Ratu Suliano Naulu.

"We will only join the GCC if the interim regime allows our high chief to be a member."

Mr Matata said if the interim regime did not change its stand, then the province would not be members of the council at all.

He said the new council of chiefs would not have many members because a handful of chiefs have not been installed in their provinces.

"Who are the installed chiefs in Fiji? Hardly any chief has been installed traditionally so it will definitely affect the membership of the GCC.

"The whole of Cakaudrove province know that whatever the Tui Cakau says or wants will be followed and according to the interim regime's review that he cannot be a member of the GCC, the other installed chiefs will not join too.

"We call it domo dua which means one voice and which is the voice of Ratu Naiqama.

"If he cannot be a member of the GCC, then why should the other chiefs in the province join?"

Mr Matata said Cakaudrove province had not changed its stand on the People's Charter proposed by the interim regime.

"In fact, we had waited for a charter team to arrive in our tikina meeting two weeks ago but no one came.

"If they had come, we would have told them straight that they were not welcome in the 14 villages of Cakaudrove.

"We have not changed our stand on the charter and will remain that way as our high chief has said."

Two weeks ago, a group of villagers in Cakaudrove had stated that it was more important to obey their high chief than to acknowledge the proposed People's Charter.

Fiji doomed unless VP appointed: Chief

Fiji doomed unless VP appointed: Chief
31 MAR 2008 -www.fijilive.com
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A Fijian chief believes the country could become a ‘crisis’ zone unless the position of Fiji Vice President is filled and the appointment of members of the Great Council of Chiefs done as soon as possible.

GCC taskforce chairman Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo told Fijilive it is imperative that members of the GCC are appointed soon otherwise the country is doomed.

“With all due respect, what if something goes wrong with the head of government and his position is left vacant?

“We will have no choice but to have the interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama take over his position because the VP and the GCC has not been appointed yet.

“That’s the reason we are trying to appoint the chiefs to sit in the council, but a few provinces have turned renegade on us. They don’t realize the consequences that will follow.”

Nawalowalo was referring to five provinces that have not shown support for the military-led interim Government and its initiatives.

He said that resentment of the interim Government will not get any better if the Prime Minister decides to become the head of government.

“So why don’t the chiefs and the people come aboard and support the interim Government and let life go on because if they continue to drag this then surely a crisis is imminent.

“It’s now or never and its time to make a wise choice for the people of Fiji.”

He is also pleading with the 14 Fijian provinces not to hesitate in appointing their high chiefs as their respective representatives to the GCC, so that the appointment of the VP is done.

“Our priority is to appoint the Vice President as soon as possible to fill the vacant position.”

He said the taskforce is confident that the new-look GCC will be ready to convene in two months.

“We are planning to hold the first meeting in June.”

Meanwhile the taskforce will be visiting the province of Serua next on April 10 to present to them the interim Cabinet’s decision on changes to the GCC.

The Naitasiri Provincial Council last week rejected the changes.