The Minister for i-Taukei Affairs, Ifereimi Vasu, announced that the Review Team responsible for evaluating the i-Taukei Affairs Act is anticipated to complete its work and submit its report within this month.
Vasu highlighted that the primary goals of the review are to enhance economic opportunities for the i-Taukei people and to bolster Vanua governance.
In response to an Oral Question regarding the review’s status, Vasu informed that the team’s efforts are being guided by the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG). He noted that the review is organized into five phases, with the team providing updates to the SAG at each stage.
The review team has engaged with a broad range of stakeholders, including religious organizations, NGOs, civil society organizations, tertiary and university students, i-Taukei institutions, women’s groups, statutory bodies, provincial councils, and the general public.
According to Vasu, the Review Team has successfully gathered insights from various community segments. During these consultations, Fijians showed support for the continuation of the i-Taukei administration, but emphasized the need for fundamental changes in its operations to address emerging issues that are influencing current development agendas.