The Cakaudrove Provincial Council is deeply concerned why the new Great Council of Chiefs Regulation promulgation 2008 was not brought first to the attention of the Bose Vanua and the provincial councils before being gazetted.

The Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu said this is a breach of good governance and transparency. He said too much power is vested upon the Minister for Fijian Affairs under the Fijian Affairs Act, and the question raised by the Tui Cakau in a statement is whether it is appropriate to get the point of view of one person or the representatives from the 14 provinces.

In the written Fijian statement, Ratu Naiqama said the power vested upon the Provincial Council is not there anymore where they appoint their own representatives to the GCC.

He said there was a move for the the GCC to be a separate body on its own but now it seems the Government will take full control of the affairs of the GCC.

Ratu Naiqama said the new regulation allows the new members of the GCC to be sworn in by the President - however the President is chosen by the members of the GCC, and it is the task of the GCC to review the job carried out by the President.

Meanwhile the Bose Vanua of Cakaudrove has agreed to make submissions to the provincial council and to Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo's team that they will not accept the new regulation and they will only support the Great Council of Chiefs Regulations 1993.

The Tui Cakau said after the Bose ni Vanua of Cakaudrove went through the consultation booklet about the People's Charter process, they had earlier submitted that the ousted parliamentarians be included in the National Council for Building a Better Fiji but this was rejected by the Interim government.

In reply to that the Chiefs of Cakaudrove have come to a conclusion they will not support the Charter process.

Stay with us as we will speak to the GCC Review Task team and the NCBBF about these issues.