The selection of representatives of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) meet must be carefully considered so that they promote their respective vanua efficiently.

This was part of Senitiki Vunisa’s consultation submission at a public consultation on the review of the GCC at the Dadamu Hall in Nanukuloa, Ra.

Mr Vunisa is a former GCC member.

“I was part of the last GCC meeting at the dome (Vodafone Arena) in 2006. It was called by the Bainimarama Government, which wanted to know about the state of the GCC,” he said.

“One weakness I observed from that meeting was the poor decision-making of the GCC during those difficult times and everything was done by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs. I saw that no opportunity was given to members of the GCC for them to make a decision on their own.”

“Good leadership is needed to oversee those who are chosen to be part of the GCC if it is to convene again and they should be able to make decisions on their own.”

He said the GCC must also address other issues like the securing a source of funding.

“There are two major things I know that help with development, one is finances and the other is the law. These are some things that can uplift and improve the GCC, and their ability to make decisions will also be recognised particularly in certain laws that bind us iTaukei,” he said.

“There’s usually a lot of controversy when the Parliament makes the decisions because the law is only used in parliament and that’s one issue that I have also seen with the GCC, it does not have any power when it comes to the law, and it doesn’t have any finances.”

Story by: salote.qalubau@fijisun.com.fj