The Interim Minister for Fijian Affairs Ratu Epeli Ganilau stresses that the Great Council of Chiefs is governed by the Fijian Affairs Act and not by its members or the Chairman of the GCC.
Ratu Epeli maintains that the Minister responsible dictates when and where the GCC will sit and set out its agenda. He said the powers vested upon the Chairman of the GCC under the regulation does not surpass those of the Minister who formulates the law.
At a press conference today, Ratu Epeli also stressed that all Chiefs who were members prior to the Council's suspension, including the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and former Chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini, have been informed that they are no longer members of the chiefly body.
The Interim Minister also highlighted that the major changes which they are looking at, is the process of selection of members of the GCC which will now include a stringent screening process and a background check on all nominees. Ratu Epeli said they are also looking at the size of the Council with intentions to reduce its membership number to make it more efficient.
He stresses that the powers to appoint the President and Vice President will remain with the GCC as outlined in the constitution.
The Ministry has earmarked various former GCC members to assist in consulting all Chiefly households, the 14 provincial councils and those indigenous Fijians who have not been represented on the council for years, before the proposed changes are taken up to cabinet for endorsement by late September.
Meanwhile, Former GCC Chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini maintains he is still the GCC Chairman and said he is concerned that the interim Fijian Affairs Minister keeps on changing his words as he had said earlier that all members of the GCC have been reinstated.
Bokini confirms that they are now contemplating to initiate another legal action against the Interim Minister.
GCC has no members-Ratu Epeli Ganilau
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