The failure of parents to promptly register their children has become a pressing national issue. Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga, expressed his goal of achieving 100 percent birth registration within the next two years. Currently, the birth registration rate stands at 80 percent nationwide.
Mr. Turaga noted that many parents delay registering their children during their early years, often waiting until their children are set to enroll in primary school. He shared these concerns during a community discussion with villagers in Dreketi. The minister was also present at the Fiji Day celebrations in Labasa, where he highlighted that the lack of birth registrations is particularly significant among the iTaukei community.
He emphasized that a high percentage of unregistered births among the iTaukei, especially for young children, is alarming. To address this, the ministry has taken proactive measures, including community outreach initiatives to encourage timely registration.
During a recent visit to Koro and Ovalau, Mr. Turaga’s team worked to bridge information gaps between the government and local communities. He pointed out that some children in rural kindergartens lack birth certificates, which complicates proper policy planning and educational allocations. “If a six-year-old is not registered, it simply means he or she is not accounted for in this country,” he stated.
In addition to birth registrations, Mr. Turaga urged the iTaukei to ensure that they register the deaths of their loved ones promptly. He emphasized the importance of recording death certificates with the Fijian Affairs Board’s Vala ni Kawa Bula (VKB) so that the deceased can be properly removed from the registry. This step allows the next eligible individual to assume the associated privileges.
Mr. Turaga remarked, “You can’t register another new head until the deceased’s name is removed from that entitlement. It is an ongoing issue faced by the iTaukei ministry in this country.”