2-day GCC meeting cost $200k – GCC Chair

2The two-day Great Council of Chiefs meeting at the Grand Pacific Hotel cost the iTaukei Trust Fund around $200,000.

This was revealed by the Chair of the GCC Ratu Viliame Seruvakula, who says, the cost is no secret.

Ratu Viliame says they had hoped to hold the meeting at the Yatu Lau Hotel and Conference Building but he saw that it wasn't really conducive and would fit the whole Council which is why they chose the GPH.

He says they are also looking at having the next meeting in May at the new complex.

Speaking on the meeting, the Chair says the whole meeting has been well received by the members of the Council where they covered a few topics.

Ratu Viliame says the members of the GCC have agreed to fund the complete overhaul of Ratu Sukuna Memorial School which is owned by the GCC.

He says it was badly run down because the GCC was disestablished for the past 16 years.

He adds the school was close to being shut down in 2018 because of the conditions.

The Chair also highlighted that it was unanimously agreed by the members that there is a need for the review of the 2013 Constitution as it was hindering the monetization of resources for the iTaukei.

Ratu Viliame says they also discussed other areas of concern such as violence against women, children and girls where the members heard testimonies from each other.

He says Fiji now rates very highly in the world in terms of domestic violence and this is a major concern for the GCC.

The Chair also highlighted that they will be submitting a paper to the Ministry for Finance regarding the review of the Mining Act as highlighted by the Namosi representatives.