Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) began its meeting this morning at the Grand Pacific Hotel (GPH), focusing on reviewing the iTaukei administration and tackling key issues affecting communities across Fiji.
The session started with a moment of silence led by GCC Chair Ratu Viliame Seruvakula to honour two late chiefs — a respected leader from the Rotuman Council and the Tui Yale from Kadavu — who recently passed away.
“We had a minute of silence because we were remembering the loss of two council members,” Ratu Viliame said.
The main topic of the morning was the review of the iTaukei administration, which has been ongoing since the last GCC meeting. The review was led by Dr. Jone Baleidrokadroka, who presented key findings, and provided insights on the current state of the iTaukei administration. They put forward a set of recommendations aimed at improving how traditional leadership and governance are managed.
Aside from the administration review, the GCC will also discuss a paper on economic empowerment, which also included several proposals for boosting the financial well-being of communities, after which the chiefs were split into three smaller groups based on their confederacies to discuss the findings and recommendations in detail. These group discussions aimed to gather feedback and ideas, which would then be shared with the full council later in the afternoon. The plan is to review these discussions, agree on the best proposals, and pass them on to the government and relevant ministries for action.
The GCC also highlighted several major concerns affecting local communities including increased hardships, drug abuse, and rising cases of domestic violence, particularly among women and children.
The meeting saw a broad representation from various provinces, including notable chiefs and community leaders. However, several key figures, including Ratu Epenisa Seru Cakobau (Turaga Vunivalu, Tui Kaba), and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka sent their apologies.
The GCC will continue its sessions tomorrow, focusing on detailed discussions about the proposed village bylaw and exploring strategies to improve the well-being of Fiji’s communities. This is the second meeting of the GCC this year following the session in Deuba in February/March.
List of Attendees:
Matanitu
Kubuna – Ratu Epenisa Seru Cakobau (Turaga Vunivalu, Tui Kaba – Apologies)
Burebasaga – Ro Teimumu Kepa (Marama Roko Tui Dreketi)
Tovata – Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu (Turaga Tui Cakau)
Ex-Officio Member – Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu (President)
Ex-Officio Member – Sitiveni Rabuka (Prime Minister -Apologies)
Ex-Officio Member – Ifereimi Vasu (Turaga Talai)
iLiuliu ni Bose – Ratu Viliame Seruvakula (iLiuliu ni BLV)
Vunivola ni Bose – Pita Tagicakirewa (Vunivola BLV)
Yasana Ba
Ratu Filimoni Logaivale Nale (Tui Ba)
Ratu Viliame Mataitoga (Tui Sabeto)
Ratu Manasa Naikasowalu (Tui Drola)
Yasana Bua
Ratu Ramakutu Nagagavoka (Tui Bua)
Ratu Amenatave Rabona (Tui Vuya)
Ratu Semi Ramatai (Turaga na Buli Raviravi)
Yasana Cakaudrove
Ratu Semisi Cagilaba (Somosomo)
Ratu Sakiusa Vakalolo
Ratu Jone Golea Lalabalavu
Yasana Kadavu
Ratu Jona Navakalukalu (Tui Naceva)
Ratu Apakuni Nanovo (Tui Nabukelevu)
Bulou Sulueti Naikelekelesi (Marama Tui Nakasa Lomanikoro)
Yasana Lau
Ratu Tevita Kapaiwai Uluilakeba Mara (Ena Vukui Lau)
Roko Josefa Cinavilakeba (Sau Kei Totoya)
Ratu Enele Colavanua (Sau Kei Mualevu)
Yasana Lomaiviti
Ratu Etueni Qiolele (Mua Batiki)
Jone Davila (Bureta)
Ratu Sevanaia Lewanavanua (Sawaieke,Gau)
Yasana Macuata
Ratu Maika Rokobatidua (Turaga Na Vunivalu Dreketi)
Ratu Jone Qomate (Tui Labasa)
Ratu Tevita Niumataiwalu (Tui Namaka)
Yasana Nadroga/Navosa
Ratu Kini Vosailagi (Tui Nalolo)
Ratu ILiesa Naitauniyalo (Tui Lawa)
Ratu Inia Tukete (Tui Conua)
Yasana Namosi
Ratu Suliano Matanitobua (Tui Namosi)
Ratu Ilaisa Rokuribua (Turaga Ni Yavusa Nakurukuruvakatini)
Ita Sauduadua (Namosi)
Yasana Naitasiri
Ratu Inoke Takiveikata (Turaga na Qaranivalu)
Ratu Jese Rona Tuinovo (Turaga na iTaukei Waluvu)
Ratu Livai Nakuta (Tui Naboubou)
Yasana Ra
Ratu Emori Bolobolo (Tui Navitilevu)
Ratu Sakiusa Taukena (Ratu Natauya)
Ratu Akuila Kubou (Tui Navatu)
Yasana Rewa
Ro Nauludole Mataitini (Vunivalu)
Ratu Sanaila Mudunavosa (Tui Suva)
Ratu Aca Vulaidausiga (Tui Noco)
Rotuma
Raymond Savea (Gagaj Tui Peroki)
James Varea Mausio (Gagaj Suakmas)
Kuata Pat Samuela (Gagaj Manav)
Yasana Serua
Ratu Emosi Navunisaravi (Turaga ni Yavusa Noi Korolevu)
Apenisa Drovarua (Railevu)
Ratu Sela Waiwaidilo (Turaga ni Yavusa Navulaca)
Yasana Tailevu
Ratu Emosi Tuinakelo (Tui Vugalei)
Ratu Ilaitia Drevuata (Turaga na Lewena Verata)
Semi Matalau (Turaga na Tui Nabou, Natogadravu,Nuku)
Mata ni Talai
Ratu Vuniyani Navuniuci (Tui Nadi)
Adi Finau Tabakaucoro (Mata ni Marama)
Ratu Etonia Seru Rokotuinaceva (Tui Levuka)
Taukei Executive Forum
Aisake Taito
Solomoni Nata
Aporosa Silatolu
Jaoji Koroi
Naibuka Saune
Apimeleki Tola
Provincial Council Chairman
Rt Meli Tora (Ba)
Sitiveni Lalibuli (Bua)
Sirilo Vukica (Cakaudrove)
Isireli Vuniwaqa (Kadavu)
Rt Meli Saubulinayau (Lau)
Rt Etueni Qiolelecaucau (Lomaiviti)
Ratu Jone Qomate (Macuata)
Rt Jone Navakamocea (Nadroga/Navosa)
Rt Jone Baledrodroka (Naitasiri)
Rt Iowane Matanitobua (Namosi)
Kiniviliame Salabogi (Ra)
Vilitati Macanawai Mataitini (Rewa)
Tevita Boseiwaqa (Serua)
Rusiate Tudravu (Tailevu)
