Rabi election hinges on Act Review

Elections for the Rabi Island Council of Leaders will not proceed until amendments are made to the Banaban Settlement Act to address past issues of financial mismanagement and governance.

Administrator Iakoba Karutake said the Act must first be reviewed to strengthen accountability and transparency before any council elections can be held.

“Without that, we cannot go for elections,” Mr Karutake said.
“We need to look into why there were problems in previous councils — abuse of office and mismanagement of funds.”

The Banaban Settlement Act governs the operations of the Rabi Island Council, including its powers, functions and election processes. Mr Karutake said amendments were necessary to align the council’s election system with national standards under the Fijian Elections Office.

“Under the current Act, the voting age is 21 years and above,” he said.
“That needs to be amended. Elections should also be coordinated by the Fijian Elections Office, not the Commissioner Northern.”

Mr Karutake said the council continues to face serious financial challenges, with income from the Banaban Trust Fund declining by between 60 and 70 per cent over the past two decades.

“We used to receive about $25,000 every fortnight,” he said.
“By 2023, when I came in, it had dropped to around $7,000 to $9,000 per fortnight.”

Since 2023, Mr Karutake has served as the sole administrator, effectively filling the roles of nine elected councillors, with his salary currently covered by the Government.

“Once a new council is elected, the Government will withdraw,” he said.
“The nine councillors will then have to be paid by the council, which will place a significant financial burden on its resources.”

Mr Karutake said the timing of council elections will ultimately be determined by the Office of the Prime Minister.