Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has acknowledged the Great Council of Chiefs’ request for a thorough review of the 2013 Constitution. Addressing the media, he noted that the outcomes from a recent meeting held at the Grand Pacific Hotel have not yet been presented to the Cabinet for approval.
Rabuka explained that Minister for i-Taukei Affairs, Ifereimi Vasu, had submitted a Cabinet Paper to the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) during that meeting. However, he has yet to receive the results regarding the GCC’s push for a constitutional review.
The Prime Minister expressed his intention to await the GCC Secretariat’s formal recommendation before taking any action within the Cabinet. He stated, “I will wait for that and will action what they (GCC) ask Cabinet to do.”
In related developments, GCC Chair Ratu Viliame Seruvakula emphasized the necessity for constitutional amendments, underscoring the need for changes to regulations that significantly impact the i-Taukei community. He remarked that amending the Constitution is essential for the GCC to progress.
This ongoing dialogue regarding the Constitution reflects an important step in addressing the needs and concerns of the i-Taukei people, and it also highlights the acknowledgment by government leaders of their role to listen and act on these community-driven propositions. As the process unfolds, it holds the potential for fostering greater inclusivity and responsiveness within the governance framework.
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