The delay in registering children for birth certificates is becoming a significant national issue. Justice Minister Siromi Turaga expressed his ambition to achieve a 100 percent birth registration rate within the next two years. Currently, only 80 percent of births are registered across the nation, with many parents neglecting this process during their children’s early years and only seeking registration when it is necessary for primary school enrollment.
During a talanoa session with residents of Dreketi villages, Mr. Turaga highlighted his participation in the Fiji Day celebrations in Labasa, where he pointed out that the lack of birth registrations is notably pronounced within the iTaukei community. He emphasized the serious implications of unregistered births, particularly among younger individuals.
To tackle this issue, the ministry is proactively engaging in community outreach efforts. During a recent visit to Koro and Ovalau, the minister’s team worked to bridge information gaps between the government and local communities. He noted that some children attending kindergartens in rural areas lack birth certificates, impacting proper policy planning and educational resource allocation.
Mr. Turaga further explained that without timely registration, unaccounted children could hinder national statistics. He made it clear that if a six-year-old is not registered, they are not reflected in the national population.
In addition to advocating for birth registrations, Mr. Turaga urged the iTaukei community to ensure timely registration of deaths. He reiterated the importance of registering death certificates with the Fijian Affairs Board’s Vala ni Kawa Bula (VKB) system so that privileges associated with the deceased are appropriately transferred to the next eligible individual.
He concluded by describing the registration of deaths as an ongoing challenge faced by the iTaukei ministry.