Justice Minister Siromi Turaga says a recent move to decentralise civil registry services in parts of Bua, Vanua Levu, has directly helped families who previously could not afford the journey to register births — a development that exposes the travel and cost barriers still blocking access to a fundamental right.
Turaga told media that a couple from the village of Lekutu were only able to register their five‑year‑old child after registry services were moved closer to their community. The minister used the example to illustrate wider problems faced across remote parts of Bua, where long distances, poor roads and high taxi fares make routine trips to registry offices prohibitively expensive for many families.
“The distances between villages are long; from one village to another, from the main road, and along field roads,” Turaga said, adding that taxi fares are not regulated. He noted that villagers travelling from Nabouwalu to Lekutu can face fares of up to $80 — a sum beyond the means of many households. “Fares aren’t regulated, so people don’t always have the means to travel,” he said.
Turaga also highlighted that the lack of birth certificates is not confined to infants and children. “Some people as old as 70 still did not have birth certificates,” he said, warning that without official documentation people can be denied access to essential services. He stressed that birth certificates enable children to enrol in school and access health services, and described registration as a fundamental right.
The minister’s comments come amid broader government efforts to improve access to services in remote areas. The coalition government has been developing a national digital plan aimed at strengthening e‑government and automating processes so applicants can track the status of applications — measures officials say could reduce the need for repeated, costly travel to central offices. For communities with limited internet and uneven road infrastructure, however, Turaga’s example shows that bringing physical services to villages remains crucial.
Local leaders and service providers say decentralisation of registry services — through scheduled outreach visits or temporary satellite offices in larger villages — can immediately remove the cost barrier for families. Turaga’s recounting of the Lekutu case is likely to renew calls for more regular outreach clinics, better transport regulation, and targeted outreach to older citizens who still lack documentation.
The Justice Ministry has not released detailed figures on how many people in Bua or across Vanua Levu remain unregistered. Turaga’s remarks, however, underline an ongoing challenge for policymakers: ensuring that civil registration systems reach the country’s most remote communities so that all Fijians can exercise their rights to education, healthcare and other public services.
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