The National Task Team 3 co-chaired by Dr Jiko Luveni and Loraine Tevi held its first meeting yesterday with the challenge of looking into the Social-Cultural Identity and Nation Building aspects of Fiji.

NTT3, as the Task Team is called, noted that a lack of common identity is a major hurdle to reconciliation and understanding among Fiji's different communities.

The team said that progress towards a national identity has been weakened by divisive laws, weak governance, the lack of economic opportunities and frequent disruptions brought about by political instability. However, the task team has acknowledged that despite differences, which at times have led to conflict and instability, there is always a strong sense of good will and understanding among Fiji's diverse communities.

The team calls for the need to overcome the "culture of silence" in Fiji to allow critical issues to be addressed openly and with trust so that lasting solutions are agreed, through dialogue and consensus adding that religious groups, schools, civil organizations and society in general plays an important role in openness.