Council supports indigenous rights
Province focuses on economic growth and infrastructure development
LIKE the country’s other 12 provincial councils, Naitasiri has also completed its provincial council meeting. The council conducted their meeting at Tamavua Village on Thursday.
The occasion also marked the return of the paramount chief, Na Gone Turaga na Qaranivalu Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, after being imprisoned for more than a decade.
The Fiji Times was informed that the Qaranivalu requested the meeting be held at Tamavua Village because he would like to host the provincial meeting next year to give the Vanua o Navuso ample time to prepare, given that it will be his Ɲrst hosting since his return.
A major outcome of the meeting was the council’s support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
“So, yeah, I think it’s a good day for Naitasiri to also be part of the UNDRIP,” said Naitasiri Provincial Council chairman Jone Baledrokadroka.
UNDRIP passed
Mr Baleidrokadroka said UNDRIP was pivotal in today’s modern society because it gives indigenous people full access and rights to their traditional resources.
“UNDRIP was actually a declaration put out by the UN Assembly in 2007,” he said.
“Only last year, this government took it upon itself to be a signatory to that. Now, when you become a signatory, there’s various things you need to do.”
Mr Baledrokadroka said one of the Ɲrst things is to “implement it in your law because that is all part of the ratiƝcation process”.
Mr Baledrokadroka said UNDRIP has 46 articles and “it should be integrated into all our laws”.
He said this may take time but it would be the dawn of a new era for Fiji’s indigenous people.
“It’s good for us, the indigenous. It’s time that we recognise our rights as indigenous people.
“For instance, I think Article 5 talks about the right of the indigenous to have their own institutions, and now we’ve got the GCC. It’s now been re-established.
“Since there are 46 of them, we have to try to implement them throughout all the other government departments.
“We’ve only done one, that is Article 5, but there are so many other articles. And that’s why we have accepted to be part of the whole process that the Government is putting into place now.
“I’m so happy because, as you see, the statistics don’t lie. We, the iTaukei, are falling behind in just about every social and economic indicator.
“So, yeah, I think it’s a good day for Naitasiri to also be part of the UNDRIP.”
Vacant titles
On the issue of vacant titles, Mr Baleidrokadroka indicated the province’s commitment to Ɲlling up to 80 per cent of those titles by the end of next year.
He said while the Veitarogi Vanua (Native Land Commission) was currently conducting its operations in Serua Province, there’s hope the NLC would visit Naitasiri soon.
“At the moment, our rate is only about just over 50 per cent to 54 per cent,” Mr Baledrokadroka said.
“So, just over half of all the positions have title holders.
“We are hoping when the NLC actually comes around to Naitasiri, we will be able to review these vacant titles.
“Hopefully, by the end of next year, the NLC will come around to visit us, and we will be able to get into the high 80 per cent to 90 per cent.”
Road infrastructure
The Naitasiri Provincial Council has also agreed to work closely with the Fiji Roads Authority on the construction of roads in the province’s highlands.
Mr Baleidrokadroka said this was an issue that has been raised consecutively at their annual meetings.
He said the FRA has tabled a report on the work done so far in the province and also laid out plans for the coming years.
“We will be working very closely with the FRA, and I think it’s within the iTaukei Affairs to free up funds that are available for use on some of the roads up in Naitasiri.
“Naitasiri is probably the only province that has villages that you need to walk hours to get to because there’s about six villages right up the highlands.
“You either go by horse or you walk. So, we are now trying our best to see that the roads go all the way up the highlands.”
Education
Another issue raised at the provincial meeting is the laxity of teachers, the need for school infrastructure development and transportation assistance for students.
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro told the media that not only was it an ongoing issue in Naitasiri, but was also a problem in other schools with similar geographical locations.
“There are development and infrastructure needs of the various schools in the province, and also the lack of teachers,” he said.
“It has been an ongoing issue, and we have taken those complaints on board. We will try to see how best we can assist them.”
Mr Radrodro said concerns were raised regarding the delay in processing payment for the transport provider in the respective schools.
“There are also the issues of transport assistance and concerns regarding the delay in the payment of expenses to the various transport providers in the schools within the province.
“This is something that we would also like to look into addressing, and the delay in the Foundation for the Education of Needy Children (FENC) payments.
“So, hopefully, we will try to make all the payments of the 50 per cent FENC payment before the start of the school term, which is next Monday, and allow the schools to carry on as normal.”
Prospects for Naitasiri
The province is also exploring the possibility of establishing a business arm, which could open up new opportunities for economic growth.
Chairman Mr Baleidrokadroka said that was an issue they would consider for this Ɲnancial year, to use the Ɲnancial assistance set by the TLTB and the Ministry of iTaukei affairs.
“We’re now trying to actually set up a business arm,” he said.
“That is an issue also, but we’re looking at all the options available and where to invest.
“We now have the TLTB initiative in trying to stimulate businesses among iTaukei. They have opened a couple of facilities, I think it’s the wealth fund or the iTaukei Development Fund.”
Mr Baledrokadroka said TLTB chief executive officer Solomoni Nata presented at the meeting the assistance available to the province in terms of business development.
“That is a new core role that they are now playing, to encourage us, the iTaukei, to develop our business entrepreneurship.
“That would be great for some of our cooperatives in Naitasiri, and even individuals have already applied for this wealth fund.”