The inaugural meeting of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji ended last night with the council making a number of major decisions.

It has been confirmed that the work proper of the council will begin on January 23rd.

Soon after the meeting, it was also confirmed that eight people who were invited by the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo to be part of the national council declined or have not responded as only 34 members attended the inaugural meeting.

The eight who are deemed to have declined or have not responded are SDL President Ratu Kalokalo Loki, NFP President Raman Pratap Singh, FICTU's Maika Namudu, Fiji Chinese Association President Lionel Yee, National Council of Women's Miriama Leweniqila, Methodist Church of Fiji President Reverend Laisiasa Ratabacaca, Fiji Council of Churches Chairman Reverand Tuikilakila Waqairatu, TISI Sangam's Dorsami Naidu and Fiji Muslim League President Hafiz Khan.

The National Council for Building a Better Fiji has also made a decision to amend the title of the People's Charter to include the word peace. The charter will now be known as the Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress. The National Council also endorsed the appointment of John Sami as the Head of the Technical Support Secretariat, which will assist the council in its work. Sami has extensive experience at national, regional and international levels in economic, financial and development issues. Now based in Australia, Sami has worked in the Fiji Government during the Alliance era.