'Truth Commission can’t compensate, but will recommend it'
FTRC confirms it lacks power to award damages, but will include Bakani family’s proposals in its final report to the President.
Wednesday 08 October 2025 | 20:30
Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission Commissioners, from left: Ana Laqeretabua, Sekove Naqiolevu and Rajendra Dass.
Photo: Kaneta Naimatau
The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) cannot grant compensation to survivors, but can recommend it in their final report, Commissioner Ana Laqeretabua confirmed yesterday.
Ms Laqeretabua was responding to questions about recommendations made by the Bakani family during their testimony at the Suva Civic Centre.
“We can only recommend. We don’t have the powers to be able to even give compensation to any survivor or witness, but we can recommend,” Ms Laqeretabua said.
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“Part of the process is hearing and then taking the recommendations and processing it and then using that to inform our broader recommendations when we submit our report.”
The commission is required to submit its final report to the President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu in February 2027.
Kali Bakani recommended compensation for trauma and losses suffered by his family following his father’s detention and imprisonment after the 2006 coup.
The late Kalivati Bakani was the Native Land Trust Board general manager, who died in custody in July 2016.
Ms Laqeretabua said the family made several strong recommendations during their testimony.
“Some of the good recommendations that the family made were recommendations towards the work of the commission, and also in terms of what we can carry forward in our recommendations,” she said.
One recommendation included a national well-being survey so Government could monitor and address issues affecting people’s mental health.
The family also recommended that ethics be included in school curriculum from primary through high school level.
Ms Laqeretabua said this recommendation would inform the commission’s education sector impact assessment, which is required under the FTRC Act 2024.
Another key recommendation was clearing the late Mr Bakani’s name.
Ms Laqeretabua acknowledged the commission is limited by the Act, but said they would work with other stakeholders to explore what healing and reconciliation looked like for the family.
Feedback: kaneta.naimatau@fijisun.com.fj
