Role of the GCC
THE Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) must play a meaningful role to become an agent of change for the iTaukei people, says FijiFirst MP Mosese Bulitavu.
He said this was what’s needed for the iTaukei rather than using the council as a political tool to gain leverage.
“If it functions like the old, as the chairman of the GCC Review Committee said, it will only encourage discrimination and more poverty amongst the iTaukei people who badly need progress,” Mr Bulitavu said.
“Let the Government create development for the public and all Fijians while the GCC economically empowers the iTaukei community through the development of their resources, so that they can contribute to the growth of the national economy.
“Affirmative action policies of the past advanced by governments will only indicate that it’s favouring a particular ethnicity and leaving others behind.”
In a multiracial Fiji, Mr Bulitavu said, the nation could not allow this kind of concept so the best way to was to allow the Government to serve everyone equally at national level while the interests of all communities are managed independently.
“Institutionalised discrimination has been Fiji’s weakness in building a vibrant and modern democratic nation-state.
“While we congratulate the new GCC chair on his new appointment, it would be good for the council in its effort to make it apolitical that the position be rotated among the three confederacies at the end of each term.
“The members should not be subject to a vote after nominations.
“The GCC should use the veivakaturagataki approach to reach decisions based on consensus.”