Attorney General Siromi Turaga says according to the iTaukei Affairs Amendment Act, the referral of questions by the Minister for iTaukei Affairs to the Great Council of Chiefs must be assessed for something substantive while FijiFirst MP says Mosese Bulitavu the law has given power to the Minister where the Minister may refer questions regarding the iTaukei to the GCC.
While debating the Bill to amend the iTaukei Affairs Act which has been passed, Turaga says the future and the shape of the GCC will be in a trust form and will take two years so they need the GCC to be sitting and deliberating on the process that is to be discussing the new shape and form of the new GCC.
He also says under Section 82 of the Constitution, the President acts on the advice of the cabinet, Minister or another body in the exercise of their executive authority.
Bulitavu says a Minister is a political appointment and could influence the appointment of any GCC member given that they will be advising the President.
He also says now powers are given to the Minister to advise the President in any appointment and asks how will it be vetted.
The MP says the iTaukei Affairs Board consists of 8 members to be appointed by the Minister where 5 members are appointed by the GCC but the Bill has taken away the veto powers of the GCC.
He urged the government to re-look at the Bill and if it was done in a rush then the government must withdraw it and refer it to the Parliamentary Committee so they can fix and repair it.
