Hard decisions on how to have a revamped and inclusive GCC – Dr Baledrokadroka

The Chair of the Great Council of Chiefs Review Team, Doctor Jone Baledrokadroka says they will have to make some hard decisions after gathering all the submissions on how a revamped GCC should look like and to ensure that it is inclusive.

Doctor Baledrokadroka says on one side of the spectrum, the traditionalists would like to see the GCC to be exclusive and just to have chiefs while the modernists or liberals want a change with diverse views and have a vast array of people reflected in the society today.

The Turaga Roko Tui Bau and review team member, Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua says they have to ensure that the GCC is not just exclusive to the iTaukei.

Ratu Timoci says they have spoken to the district advisory groups and the general consensus was that they want it to be re-established as they say they would feel secure with the GCC bringing people together.

Baledrokadroka says the question remains on whether we can politics proof the GCC as it is very hard to do that.

While reacting to previous statements that the GCC was a British set up, he says in every society, Baledrokadroka says there is an infusion of various traditions and culture.

He says no society stands alone in a vacuum.

Baledrokadroka says after the coming of the British, the iTaukei have assimilated a lot of that culture and tradition, and we have made it our own.

He says the GCC is an introduced institution but over the years the iTaukei have made that part and parcel of our culture and tradition to look up to the GCC as the head of the society.

Baledrokadroka says this is a strong group think in the iTaukei community.

Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua also says the main reason for calling the meeting is that it has been 16 years since the GCC has been disestablished.

He says this meeting is to lay the platform to begin the relationship between the chiefs of all provinces going forward.

Ratu Timoci says they will also focus on what changes can be brought about to bring changes to the lives of the iTaukei and other races.