GCC will be able to sit in the next 1-2 years - AG

The Great Council of Chiefs will be able to sit in the next 12 months to 2 years as the Government has enacted the i-Taukei Land Trust Amendment Bill last month.

While speaking on the Attorney General’s Office and Ministry for Justice's achievements and challenges for the year 2023, Attorney-General Siromi Turaga says they have actually brought back what was taken out previously from the Act so the GCC will be in existence for at least 12 months to 2 years.

He says this is to ensure they will be able to come up with a new format for the shape and size of the new GCC.

Turaga says once that is completed then the old Act is repealed, and the new one is brought forward.

The Attorney General adds that the GCC was removed without any consultation as it was just not considered by the previous government as something of value.

In May 2023, the GCC first met on Bau Island after it was disbanded in 2007.

A GCC Review Committee was set up in April 2023 that included Dr Jone Baledrokadroka, Ratu Timothy Tavanavanua, Dr Eci Nabalarua, Graham Leung, Malakai Naiyaga, Mereani Rokotuibau, and Dr Apisalome Movono.

The team consulted across the 14 provinces and also Rotuma and Rabi.

They also collected views from Fijians living overseas and also conducted GCC Review consultations in Australia and the US.