Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara is one of the three names the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs has received to represent Lau Province at the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) meeting in Bau next week.

This is despite a border alert signed and issued on March 15, 2023 was issued against him as a “person of interest”.

Ratu Tevita, commonly known as Roko Ului fled to Tonga in a Tongan naval vessel in May 2011 after being bailed when on a sedition charge.

When asked about the border alert Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu said he only worked with the names given by the provincial councils.

“From my side we get the nomination from the Lau Provincial Council and I understand it has already made arrangements, but if he is not coming then there will be only two representatives from Lau,” Mr Vasu said.

The other two representatives from Lau Province are Roko Josefa Cinavilakeba and Ratu Enele Colavanua.

Roko Ului was charged in May 2011 with one count of seditious offence and had pleaded not guilty to the offence.

However, in October 2014 then Director of Public Prosecution Christopher Pryde told the court that the state did not intend to continue proceedings against Roko Ului.

Meanwhile, after fleeing the country in 2011, Roko Ului visited Fiji again after the change in Government earlier this year and flew out of the country on March 14.

 Story By:  Wati Talebula-Nuku

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