The Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga, is confident that his upcoming visit to Bangkok, Thailand, next year will enhance understanding and help address the issues related to birth and death registration in Fiji. The ministry has set an ambitious goal to achieve 100 percent birth registration by 2026.
“Fiji is ahead in terms of other Pacific Island nations,” Mr. Turaga stated. While Fiji currently boasts an 80 percent birth registration rate, the minister is focused on engaging the remaining population that remains unaccounted for.
“This indicates that 20 percent of the population in Fiji lacks registration,” he explained. Mr. Turaga further revealed that teams have conducted visits to various areas in Vanua Levu, noting that there are prevalent issues of non-registration among newborns and children. Although there has been a slight increase in awareness, it is still insufficient to reach the targeted population.
To continue advancing the birth registration process, Mr. Turaga emphasized the need for additional budgetary support in the upcoming financial year. Samuela Ligairi, the special administrator for Labasa Town Council, mentioned that village heads and advisory councillors are expected to assist the ministry in identifying individuals in communities and villages who are not registered at birth.