Banabans on Rabi island Photo: International Center for Advocates Against Discrimination (ICAAD)
An elder from the Banaban community on Fiji's Rabi Island wants an urgent review of the Banaban Settlement Act.
The Act allows the people from the Kiribati island of Banaba to live on Rabi, and gain dual citizenship.
But Toanuea Taratai, who is chairman of Tabwewa village on Rabi, said the Act is the cause of the confusion in recent weeks over a planned renewal of phosphate mining on Banaba.
That proposal, agreed to by the Fiji government appointed administrator, but strongly opposed by Banabans, is now on hold, and Taratai wants a new governing arrangement put in place.
He said the confusion results from the powers being vested in this one man.
"Our Banaban Settlement Act is quite colonial in regards to our position in the two sovereignties, between the Kiribati government and the Fiji government.
"And that causes a lot of confusion, which I think has caused this problem, giving the administrator certain powers."
Taratai said the Rabi Council of Elders, disbanded by the Bainimarama administration, should be restored, but not before the legislation is updated.
Fiji's prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka committed to restore this council soon after coming to power, but nothing has happened to date.
Taratai said Banabans strongly oppose any resumption of mining and have a desire to rehabilitate the island.
He said a group of Banaban elders is travelling to New Zealand next month for discussions with the New Zealand government on this matter, but a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said no such talks are planned.
The international non-government organisation ICAAD which describes its work as creating innovative solutions that disrupt unjust systems for a more equitable future is working with the Banabans on Rabi.
Earlier this year ICAAD established, with the Banaban community, recommendations for the governments of Kiribati and Fiji to undertake.
The recommendations
- The Kiribati government must take immediate action to ensure access to basic food supplies and clean water on Banaba.
- The Fiji Office of the Prime Minister should embark on an urgent fact-finding mission to Rabi to evaluate development outcomes. This trip should also include a scoping assessment to plan an election to reinstate the Rabi Council of Leaders. This should include amendments to the Banaban Settlement Act 1970.
- Both the Kiribati and Fiji governments should extend guarantees of dual citizenship for Banabans.
- Both the Kiribati and Fiji governments should extend support to Banabans applying for citizenship, which should include reducing the application fee and simplifying processes.
- The Fiji government should establish a Ministry for Minor Ethnic Groups with a specific budget for development assistance on Rabi, Kioa, and Rotuma.