Interim Prime Minister and Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Commodore Frank Bainimarama has appointed himself as the new Chairperson of the Great Council of Chiefs after revoking the Fijian Affairs GCC Regulations 1993.

In the new regulation gazetted by Bainimarama, the Interim Minister responsible who is Commodore Bainimarama is appointed to be a member of the GCC. The 42 persons who are prescribed by the regulation to be members representing the chiefs of the 14 provinces shall comprise 3 chiefs from each of the 14 provinces, each of whom shall have demonstrated exemplary leadership in the Vanua and in the community at large, and shall be appointed by the Indigenous Affairs Minister.

Bainimarama will also appoint 3 chiefs from the island of Rotuma to the GCC and six persons to be co-opted members shall each be chiefs, and shall be appointed by him.

Members appointed to the Great Council of Chiefs shall also, upon appointment take the oath of allegiance before the President.

Under the new GCC regulation, a person shall not be eligible to be appointed as a member of the council if the person has at anytime during the immediately preceding 7 years, been a member of parliament or senate. Those who have been candidates for an election to the House of Representatives or were office bearers of a political party do not qualify to be part of the GCC for 7 years.

A person will also not be eligible to be appointed to the GCC if the person is an undercharged bankrupt, is under a sentence of imprisonment, has within 10 years immediately preceding his appointment been released from prison after serving a term of imprisonment of more than 6 months or completed serving a community service order.

It has also been noted in the gazette that the GCC shall meet at least once a year at such time and place as the Indigenous Affairs Minister may appoint by notice in a gazette.