Govt serves 1,500+ Fijians in UK roadshow

Government led a tour to the United Kingdom (UK), bringing services from key public institutions to serve more than 1500 Fijians across 13 locations.

Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu briefed Parliament on the outcome of the roadshow on Thursday. This was the first Government initiative of its kind.

The roadshow allowed major iTaukei institutions, including the iTaukei Land Trust Board, iTaukei Trust Fund Board, iTaukei Affairs Board commercial arm, iTaukei Lands and Fisheries Commission, Ministry of Justice, Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF), Fijian Elections Office (FEO), Public Rental Board (PRB), and Fijian Holdings Unit Trust, to engage with the Fijian diaspora and connect them to services relating to identity, land documentation and cultural heritage over two weeks.

The iTaukei Lands and Fisheries Commission facilitated Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB) registrations and updates, particularly for children of Fijians born abroad. About 1538 individuals were directly assisted through the eight iTaukei Lands and Fisheries Commission services.

The FEO registered more than 400 voters, with voter details corrected or updated and postal ballot delays identified as an issue. The Ministry of Justice processed more than 578 civil registry requests, including births, deaths and marriages, collecting nearly $8000 in fees.

The FNPF assisted diaspora Fijians in initiating or resuming voluntary contributions to the FNPF. Over $44,000 in contributions were processed.

The iTaukei Land Trust Board handled more than 770 lease-related queries, including those for residential, agricultural, and business investments, generating more than $1.8 million in lease premiums and nearly $800,000 in annual lease rent income for iTaukei landowners.

Fijian Holding Units Trust opened 589 new accounts, securing more than $300,000 in initial investment and projects over $1.4 million in annual top-ups from the UK diaspora.

The iTaukei Trust Fund Board and the iTaukei Affairs Board engaged with over 230 cultural and development-related queries. However, challenges around limited access to Government services, loss of language and cultural connections, postal voting and a kava ban remain for Fijians abroad.

Mr Vasu suggested several solutions such as a Diaspora Affairs Coordination Unit in Fiji, improving and streamlining digital government services for overseas-based Fijians, providing a support mechanism for diaspora investment and land development, and expanding language and cultural learning platforms.

"As we reflect on the success of the UK-Fiji Roadshow, let us also recognise that our people abroad remain an integral part of our national story," he told Parliament. "They are Fijians, not just in name but in heart, identity and spirit. They contribute through remittances, skills, knowledge, and, now more than ever, through a desire to invest, reconnect, and give back to their vanua.

"It is now our responsibility to build a system that supports their inclusion, not only as beneficiaries of services, but as active partners in development and national building."