‘No ban on visitors to Rabi’
No one is prohibited from entering Rabi Island in the Northern Division says Rabi Island Council administrator Iakoba Jacob Karutake. There has been mixed reactions following an article published by Radio New Zealand (RNZ) on Wednesday (January 31) titled “Fiji official aims to ban visitors to Rabi Island”.
Mr Karutake, a former schoolteacher said the article was biased. He said the council had not stopped visitors from visiting the island.
“Anyone can visit Rabi Island including foreigners from abroad,” Mr Karutake said.
Visitors need to follow the policy implemented by the council decades ago.
“The policy states that any visitor upon arrival on the island have to go to Rabi police first for registration stating the purpose of their visit and the duration of their stay,” he said.
This has been an ongoing practice.
“The policy came into effect when the council found out that there were some foreigners entering the island and doing consultation and capacity building,” he said.
“This led to miscommunication and created division among the people on the island.
“The complaint, Rae Bainteiti is an activist who has been operating a non-government organisation and known for creating divisions among the Banabans.
“We need to protect our people and policies are implemented to be followed.”
Who is Mr Karutake
The 56-year-old originally from Rabi Island was a provincial candidate for the People’s Alliance party in 2022.
“I have been in the Rabi Island Council from 1997 to 2004,” he said.
He claims that council was dissolved in 2013 and there was need for someone to revive it.