Do Not Politicise Great Council Of Chiefs, Ba Villager Urges Government
“The GCC needs to have a separate source of funding to run on its own apart from the iTaukei Affairs Trust Board,” he said.
Friday 05 May 2023 | 12:08
Joseva Botitu of Yakete, Nalotawa, Ba says the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) must be independent of the Coalition Government and not politicised.
This was part of his submission during the public consultation on the review of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) at the Ba Town Council hall on Thursday.
“The GCC needs to have a separate source of funding to run on its own apart from the iTaukei Affairs Trust Board,” he said.
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Mr Botitu requested that the number of representatives to represent the Western Division should be increased.
“If there are fewer people representing the Yavusa O Ba, then it should be increased to three, one from Nadi, one from the Lautoka and Yasawa zone, and one from the Ba and Tavua zone.
“This will make it easier for grassroots-level communities to get in touch with the reps.
“Who else will we raise our concerns to when we are facing problems. The GCC must come to us so that it can hear the voices of the vanua. It is hard for us to go through the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs because it listens to the Government.
“When a decision is made during the Tikina meeting and taken to the Bose ni Yasana meeting, then Government, the process is too long. The GCC is to be independent.”
GCC review committee member Eci Nabalarua said Mr Botitu’s concerns were noted
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