Gifts for the chiefs, Great Council of Chiefs, 1986 Photo: RNZ/Supplied?
One of the Pacific's oldest political institutions, Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs or GCC, is to be re-established with the first meeting set for May.
The GCC has existed since 1876 but was suspended in 2007 and formally abolished in 2012 by the former Prime Minister.
Frank Bainimarama's reasoning was that it had perpetuated elitism and created divisive politics because it was part of Fiji's colonial past.
While addressing the opening of the 2023-2024 session of Parliament last week, President Ratu Williame Katonivere said the government must respect the human rights of every person in Fiji and also continue to recognise the rights of the first peoples of the nation, or the iTaukei and the people of Rotuma.
The president announced the Great Council of Chiefs, traditionally the apex of vanua or village politics, is to be re-established.
He said the government will undertake consultations and preparatory work before bringing the relevant bills to the House of Parliament.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the GCC will meet as soon as the legislation related to its establishment is formalised.
The GCC building was destroyed by fire in late 2019.
Rabuka said there were plans for it to be rebuilt but meeting houses can be hired until then.