The Ministry of iTaukei Affairs has announced the appointment of retired Republic of Fiji Military Forces senior officer Meli Saubulinayau as the new chairman of the iTaukei Lands and Fisheries Commission, replacing Apimeleki Tola. The move, made public in a ministry media release today, positions Saubulinayau at the helm of the body responsible for administration and policy guidance over indigenous land and fisheries resources.
Saubulinayau, who hails from Tubou on Lakeba in the Lau group, is a former colonel with a long career in the RFMF that included service in both national and international operations, the ministry said. Following his military retirement he continued to take on leadership roles in community and national organisations; he has previously served as chairman of the Lau Provincial Council and as chairman of Cricket Fiji.
The ministry said it expects Saubulinayau’s governance and leadership experience to strengthen the commission’s work in administering iTaukei land and fishing rights. The iTaukei Lands and Fisheries Commission has statutory responsibility to oversee the management, protection and policy direction of resources traditionally owned by indigenous Fijians, a role that intersects with land use, customary fishing areas and broader community development.
Saubulinayau’s appointment comes amid a series of recent leadership changes across agencies involved in land and marine resource governance. In early July, Solomoni Nata was appointed chief executive officer of the iTaukei Land Trust Board after serving as interim CEO, while the Public Service Commission in mid-July named Sanjana Devi Lal as Acting Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry. Those appointments, along with today’s change at the commission, mark a period of renewed attention to staffing senior roles that influence land and fisheries policy.
The ministry did not provide further details about the transition from Apimeleki Tola or on the term length for the new chair. It also did not outline immediate policy shifts tied to the appointment. Observers say leadership continuity and clear coordination among the commission, the iTaukei Land Trust Board and the Fisheries and Forestry Ministry will be important as the government and customary landowners navigate development proposals, resource management and the protection of customary rights.
Saubulinayau’s record in provincial administration and national sporting governance underscores the ministry’s emphasis on leadership that can engage both traditional authorities and national institutions. The commission will now move forward under his stewardship as it continues to administer indigenous land and fisheries matters and provide policy guidance intended to uphold iTaukei interests.
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