The Turaga Vunivalu na Tui Kaba of Kubuna Ratu Epenisa Cakobau during his installation on Bau Island on 10 March 2023. Photo: Fiji Government
History will be created when an Indo-Fijian dance group will perform at the reinstatement ceremony of Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) - 16 years after it was abolished by former prime minister Frank Bainimarama.
RNZ Pacific has also received confirmation that the gathering of the high chiefs will not have participation from the province of Namosi, who asked to be excluded from the event, because their high chief is currently serving a jail term for corruption charges.
The GCC, regarded as the apex of indigenous Fijian politics, will be meeting on Bau Island in Tailevu, about 35km outside of capital Suva, on May 24 and 25.
The council had been a platform where selected members get to discuss and agree on the pathways for indigenous Fijians issues such as land, culture, education and development.
Over 40 chiefs from around Fiji and Rotuma will be joined by six nominees of the Minister of iTaukei Affairs and 14 provincial representatives as the GCC returns to the chiefly island.
Speaking to RNZ Pacific on Monday, iTaukei Affairs permanent secretary Pita Tagicakirewa said Namosi will not be part of the event following a request from high chief and Tui Namosi Ratu Suiano Matanitobua.
"I confirm that the Turaga Tui Namosi has requested that Namosi be excluded from this year's GCC," Tagicakirewa said.
Ratu Suliano is currently serving a jail term for charges of corruption in falsifying housing allowance claims brought against him by the former FijiFirst administration in 2022.
Bau chief Ratu Aisea Komaitai also confirmed that the Indian Cultural Centre dance group will be the first ever Indo-Fijian group to take part in any GCC opening event.
He said their participation will be an outstanding part of history.
"The Indian Cultural Dance Group will be one of the performers at the opening of the GCC. It will be the first time for the Indian cultural dance to perform at the Bose Levu Vvakaturaga or the GCC," Ratu Aisea added.
Preparations on target
Preparations are on target for the meeting and the chiefs will start arriving on the island, about an hour's drive out of the capital, on Monday, May 22.
"We will round off our preparations this week before the members of the GCC who have been selected start arriving in Bau," Tagicakirewa said.
"The logistics preparation and for the meeting itself, we should be completing all preparation by Saturday this week."
Ratu Aisea said Bau is ready to host the event.
"At the moment preparations are underway with the members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Engineering Unit completing renovations to the Naulunivuaka meeting hall where the meeting will take place," he said.
"Everyone on this island is preparing for this Bose Levu Vakaturaga. Right now, they are renovating their houses and surroundings and will make sure when the GCC comes the island will be clean and tidy as chiefs will be arriving on the island."
Ratu Aisea is the chiefly herald or matanivanua of the Turaga Bale na Vunivalu and Tui Kaba, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, the traditional head of the Kubuna Confederacy.
Funding
The GCC meeting is budgeted to cost around $FJ400,000.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has said that the government will not fund the gathering.
Ratu Aisea said the people of Bau and Kubuna were solely responsible for the catering and had budgeted $FJ30,000 for the three days.
"Even Bauans living overseas have pledged their support and will give financial contributions towards the catering," he said.
Tagicakirewa has confirmed that the iTaukei Trust Fund will be funding the event.
Participants
Tagacakirewa confirmed that each of the 14 provinces and Rotuma were asked to nominate three chiefs each to participate at the GCC meet.
"The iTaukei Affairs Board had approved that three chiefs from each of the 14 provinces will attend the GCC meeting. So, in total we are looking at 42 chiefs and three from Rotuma."
These will be joined by six nominees of the Minister for iTaukei Affairs and 14 provincial reps, plus one from Rotuma.
The traditional heads of the three confederacies of Kubuna, Burebsaga and Tovata will also attend the event.
These are Ratu Epenisa, the Turaga Vunivalu na Tui Kaba of Kubuna, Ro Teimumu Kepa, the Marama na Roko Tui Dreketi of Burebsaga and the Turaga na Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu of Tovata.
Ratu Naiqama is also the Speaker of Parliament.
The chiefly island of Bau will host the Great Council of Chiefs meeting. Photo: Fiji Government
President to preside over ceremonies
The meeting will be officially opened by the President of Fiji, Turaga Tui Macuata, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere.
Tagicakirewa said it will also mark the official opening of the Ratu Sukuna Day celebrations in Fiji.
"The President will open the GCC meeting and this year the GCC meeting is to go together with the Ratu Sukuna Day celebrations," he said.
Three dance performances will be part of the opening ceremony, with the Gonesau group from Nakorotubu in Ra and the Wailevu group from Macuata in Vanualevu also marked to perform along with the Indian Cultural Centre group.
The first meeting will be chaired by the Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Colonel (Retired) Ifereimi Vasu and the meeting will have to select a new Chairman and Deputy.
Colonel Vasu told the media in March that the meeting is critical.
"I am hoping that it will be a place where chiefs will gather to make wise decisions for this country and to bring all races together," he said.
"There are many issues facing our country. The GCC holds an important role in contributing ideas of how best we can all work together to address them."
A highlight of the meeting proper will be the presentation by the GCC Review Committee, led by Chairman Dr Ratu Jone Baledrokadroka.
The Review Committee has been visiting parts of the country to assess and collect views on the new GCC set up.
Chiefs will also be able to make their submissions to the Review Team at the meeting.