The Minister for i-Taukei Affairs, Ifereimi Vasu, announced that the Review Team tasked with evaluating the i-Taukei Affairs Act is expected to complete its work and submit its report by the end of this month.
Vasu explained that the primary goals of the review are to enhance economic opportunities for the i-Taukei community and to reinforce governance through the concept of Vanua.
Responding to an oral question regarding the review’s progress, Vasu stated that the team is being guided by the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) throughout the process. He mentioned that the review is structured in five phases, with updates provided to the SAG after each phase.
The review team has engaged with a wide array of stakeholders, including religious organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), university and tertiary students, i-Taukei institutions, Women’s Groups, statutory bodies, provincial councils, and the general public.
“The Review Team has consulted and gathered insights from diverse segments of the community. During these consultations, many Fijians expressed their support for the continuation of i-Taukei administration but emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in its operations,” Vasu remarked.
He further noted that the administration must address emerging issues that are influencing contemporary development agendas.