The Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga, is confident that his upcoming trip to Bangkok, Thailand, next year will enhance their understanding and help to find solutions to birth and death registration issues in Fiji. The ministry has set a goal to achieve 100 percent birth registration by the year 2026.
Mr. Turaga highlighted that Fiji is already ahead of other Pacific Island nations, with an 80 percent birth registration rate, leaving 20 percent of the population unregistered. He pointed out that efforts are needed to engage the remaining population fully.
During recent visits to some areas in Vanua Levu, the ministry observed significant gaps in birth registration among newborns and children. Although there has been a slight increase in awareness, it still falls short of reaching the entire targeted population.
Mr. Turaga emphasized the necessity for additional budgetary support in the next financial year to sustain the birth registration initiative. Labasa Town Council special administrator, Samuela Ligairi, mentioned the importance of local advisory councillors and village heads in helping the ministry identify individuals who are not registered at the community and village level.