ITaukei urged to register children, also in VKB

The Ministry of iTaukei Affairs has continued to stress the importance of registering children at birth, and also doing the same in the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB).

Ministry of iTaukei Affairs principal administration officer Tevita Cokanasiga said it was important for an iTaukei to register in the VKB because it provided him/her with an identity.

The VKB records is to ensure that their rights as indigenous Fijians are protected.

“Please register the birth of your child and get his/her birth certificates, but don’t only stop there, register them in the VKB as well so they have a sense of belonging,” Mr Cokanasiga said.

“The Vola Ni Kawa Bula is a very important register. It records all the clans of the 14 provinces of Fiji.

“If your name is in the Vola Ni Kawa Bula records, it establishes which mataqali (clan) you belong to, links you to the ownership of the land, iqoliqoli (fishing grounds) and other resources the mataqali owns.

“You cannot receive lease money (equal distribution) if your name is not in the VKB. You don’t have the right of ownership of land, if your name does not appear in these important records.”

Mr Cokanasiga said these records also enabled the iTaukei Affairs Board to carry out other vital work to safeguard the welfare of the indigenous people.

“With these records we are able to solve land conflicts, decide on customary title disputes, proceed in the orderly filling of vacant chiefly posts, and support sustainable developments in villages,”

Mr Cokanasiga said.

He also stressed the importance of registering the death of loved ones. “We know that some islands are far from Suva, but they can do these during the provincial council meetings when representatives are readily available.

“Or they can arrange to have their village headman travel to Suva to carry out these duties on behalf of the villagers.” Edited by Percy Kean