The people of Fiji’s outer islands have expressed a strong need for essential services such as registering births, deaths, marriages, and companies. To address this need, the Ministry of Justice has launched an outreach program designed to make these services more accessible to all Fijians.
During a recent statement in Parliament, Minister Siromi Turaga highlighted the importance of these initiatives in delivering essential services directly to communities throughout Fiji. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that no one is overlooked, particularly those in remote areas.
“Our outreach program encompasses various services including birth, death, and marriage registrations, title registrations, and company registrations,” Minister Turaga stated.
In August, the Ministry of Education partnered with the Ministry of Justice to conduct an outreach program in Yasayasa Moala, where villages such as Totoya, Matuku, and Moala received essential documentation support. During this initiative, officials officiated several court marriages and facilitated the registration of multiple births and businesses.
Building on this success, the Ministry of Justice organized a tour to Koro Island from September 10 to 13, 2024, where they further engaged with local residents and opened a Births, Deaths, and Marriage Registry Office at the local Post Office. This tour, which involved representatives from various Government Ministries, allowed officials to connect with five villages while promoting community trust in the justice system.
Residents of Koro Island enthusiastically participated in the services offered, with many taking the opportunity to register their businesses and access information about government grants. The outreach program showed significant results, highlighting its positive impact on the community.
Additionally, from September 25 to 29, the Minister for Justice and senior officials visited Ovalau to engage directly with locals and assist in registering vital services. This initiative has already facilitated the successful establishment of numerous new businesses in Levuka.
Looking ahead, the Ministry plans to extend its outreach efforts to more villages and establish additional registry offices in various locations across Fiji, reinforcing their commitment to reaching every corner of the country.
A new team will also travel to Vanua Levu after the Fiji Day celebrations, marking another step in their mission to ensure justice is accessible for all. The Minister acknowledged the efforts of the previous Government in improving access to essential services and emphasized ongoing initiatives to enhance operational efficiency within the ministry itself.
Furthermore, improvements to the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB) system are underway, aimed at preserving cultural governance while improving access to government services. The VKB serves as an important record for the iTaukei people, documenting ancestral lineages.
Overall, the Ministry of Justice is committed to providing critical services to outer communities, ensuring that all Fijians benefit from their outreach efforts.