Pacific

Fiji Labour leader says chiefs back call to reinstate GCC

19:29 pm on 14 August 2013

Fiji's Labour leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, says he has spoken to chiefs about his call to reinstate the Great Council of Chiefs.

The GCC was disbanded by the regime in March last year, with Commodore Bainimarama calling it a relic from the colonial era.

It was set up under British rule in the 1870s and included 55 traditional leaders.

Mr Chaudhry says the GCC has been an important institution for the Fijian people and a source of stability in the country.

"They are executed as a advisory board into issues concerning the welfare and wellbeing of the indigenous Fijian community, it is part of cultural identity and there is great dissatisfaction that the GCC was disbanded unilaterally by Bainimarama. Bainimarama doesn't have the mandate of indigenous Fijian people."

Mahendra Chaudhry says the chiefs he has spoken to are satisfied with his decision.