The chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), Ratu Viliame Seruvakula, has clarified that the recent trip to China undertaken by some council members was aimed at acquiring technical assistance rather than financial support for income-generating projects.
Following the visit, Rewa Province has been chosen as the pilot area to implement some best practices learned during the trip. Ratu Viliame remarked that the implementation would take place in collaboration with Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa.
He noted that Ro Teimumu had effectively communicated the details of the visit in the media and emphasized the need for a thorough understanding of the initiatives discussed. If these initiatives prove successful in Rewa, they can potentially be rolled out to other provinces as well.
Ratu Viliame praised the Chinese approach to poverty alleviation, highlighting the innovative ideas shared during the visit. However, he reminded the team that Fiji’s governmental structures and societal backgrounds differ significantly from those in China.
He acknowledged that certain practices may be unfamiliar to Fiji, particularly the reliance on subsistence farming and local resources. Ratu Viliame indicated that many Fijians are accustomed to these methods due to historical family practices and emphasized the necessity for training to promote more commercial practices in resource management.
He reiterated that the purpose of the trip was to seek technical expertise, stating, “We were there looking for technical expertise. The trip to China was not to ask for money or ask for people to come in and do the job; we need the expertise to utilize our own resources.”