Rabi calls for law change to allow free Banaban movement

The Rabi Island administrator has called for amendments to immigration legislation to allow the free movement of Banabans between Fiji and Kiribati, instead of relying on one-off naturalisation.

Iakoba Karutake said while he welcomed the Government’s Cabinet paper to naturalise between 300 and 400 Banabans, long-term legislative changes were needed to ensure the issue did not resurface in future.

“It’s not a matter of giving them citizenship through naturalisation, but something to do with the legislation,” Mr Karutake said.

“The issue now is that it doesn’t solve the problem because maybe after 10 or 20 years another list of our people will come up again.”

Mr Karutake explained that Banabans faced unique circumstances as they fell under two governments — Kiribati, because of their homeland on Banaba, and Fiji, because of Rabi Island.

“We are very unique people and I hope the Government can look into legislation that can give a free way for people to move in and out between the two countries,” he said.

The administrator noted that Banabans were able to move freely to Kiribati under Chapter 9 of the Kiribati Constitution, which protects Banaban rights.

“People from here moving to Kiribati is not a problem,” he said.

“It’s those from Banaba coming over to Fiji. That’s the main problem, which is silent in Fiji’s immigration legislation.”

Mr Karutake said the Government should review the Immigration Act to recognise Banabans as members of the community who could move freely between the two countries with verification from the Rabi Council.

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