This is after Parliament passed the Immigration Amendment Bill 2023.
While tabling the Bill, Attorney General Siromi Turaga says following extensive public consultations conducted and based on the submissions received both verbal and written, cabinet also endorses that the Minister for Immigration by way of order in the Gazette will exempt descendants of all other Fijian citizens of all other groups from the requirement to obtain permit under Section 8(3) of the Act.
According to Section 8(3) of the Act, the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, exempt any other person or class of persons from the requirement to obtain a permit, subject to any conditions the Minister prescribes in the order.
Turaga says the exemption will be provided to recognise the historical lineages to Fiji and to show this government’s commitment, to ensure no matter which part of the world you may be in, as long as you have a link to Fiji you will always find home here.
The Attorney General also confirms the government is currently working with Kioa and Banaban people to undertake the process of citizenship by naturalisation to regularise their status as Fiji citizens.
He says the Bill in no way intends to discriminate against other ethnic groups in Fiji.
Turaga says as a sign of good faith to all our people, the legislation will commence on the same date as the order so that whether you are a non-Fijian citizen registered in the VKB, who are descendant of Fiji citizens, the exemption to enter Fiji without a permit will be applicable on the same date.
He says for other ethnic groups such as those that belong to the Indo-Fijian, Kioa and Banaban groups and so forth, active and committed efforts are being undertaken to define the specific categories within these ethnic groups that would qualify for an exemption.
Turaga stresses the same exemption given to non-Fiji citizens registered in the VKB will be given to Fiji citizens of all other ethnic groups in Fiji.
The Attorney General further says by virtue of registration in the VKB an iTaukei person is considered a member of a land owning unit in Fiji.
He says he has been advised by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs that there are a total of 1,390 yavusa, 5,280 mataqali, 9,979 tokatoka and the total live members of iTaukei registered in the VKB to date is 541,540.
Turaga says when the Act was passed in 2003 there was a provision that allowed for a non-Fiji citizen to enter, reside and work in Fiji without having to apply for a permit however in 2007 this provision was repealed through the Immigration Amendment Proclamation 2007.
He says in doing so, it was done at a time when parliament was not convened and no Opposition was there to question such a provision.
The Attorney General says given the manner in which this provision was removed, it is only right that this be corrected and that too democratically as they are doing now.
He further says Fiji is and has been facing the issue of brain drain with many of our skilled workers having to leave our shores to find better employment opportunities overseas.
Turaga says the Opposition has been saying that people are leaving because of the change in government but that is far from the truth.
He says by allowing non-Fiji citizens who are registered in the VKB to enter and work in Fiji without obtaining a permit, it is a hope that this is one of the measures to address the brain drain.
He asks the Opposition what is their motivation in disagreeing with the Bill.
While opposing the Bill, FijiFirst MP Viliame Naupoto says not anyone can access the VKB completely and a person can only see what it has to do with their family.
He says the aim of the VKB is to connect the person who is there to the ownership of the land and not for immigration purposes.
Naupoto says they are trying to use the restrictive document where one can see what belongs to them and open it up where anybody can access.
He says when he was the Director of Immigration, he saw that every system that had to produce requirements for immigration were very open to corruption.
FijiFirst MP Mosese Bulitavu says if he were the Attorney General, he would have withdrawn the Bill because it is not completely drafted.
Bulitavu says Turaga spoke about descendants of other ethnic groups but there is no mention of that in the Bill.
He says the Attorney General should withdraw the Bill and add another list that should take care of other communities that should be part of the exception.
The MP also says the requirement used for other ethnic groups should also be used for the iTaukei and the VKB should not be used.
While speaking in support of the Bill, Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Sashi Kiran says through this Bill, the coalition government recognises all our people.
She says people of all ethnicities born in Fiji, they and their descendants are welcome to Fiji.
Kiran says this is the loloma being sent to all of you by the coalition government.
She has also cautioned those intending to come as well and says while everyone is very welcome, it is important that we protect our nation from crime, drugs and other unwanted elements that could add to our social challenges.
In his right of reply, Turaga says the issue of VKB is a non-issue because they are reverting to the status quo.
He says they took it out and are putting it back.
While responding to Bulitavu, Turaga says the specifications are covered in the regulation and not the Act.
He says the authority to permit someone is under the Permanent Secretary and the Director not the Minister because you appeal to the Minister.
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