The Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga, is confident that his upcoming visit to Bangkok, Thailand, will enhance understanding and provide solutions for the birth and death registration challenges in Fiji. The ministry aims to achieve complete birth registration by 2026.
“Fiji is leading compared to other Pacific Island nations,” Mr. Turaga stated. Currently, the country has an 80 percent birth registration rate, but the focus now is on the remaining population that is not registered.
“This indicates that 20 percent of Fiji’s population is unaccounted for,” he noted.
Mr. Turaga highlighted that recent visits to various areas in Vanua Levu revealed a persistent issue with non-registration of newborns and children. While there has been a slight increase in awareness regarding birth registration, it has not reached all targeted demographics.
The minister emphasized the need for additional budgetary support in the upcoming financial year to continue improving the birth registration process.
Samuela Ligairi, the special administrator for the Labasa Town Council, urged advisory council members and village leaders to cooperate with the ministry in identifying individuals who have not registered their births in their communities and villages.