$200 Monthly Allowance For Tribes Leaders
GCC concluded its meeting with decisions to enhance the iTaukei community: Vasu.
On the final day of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) meeting a decision to provide a monthly allowance of $200 to liuliu-ni-yavusa was approved.
However, this will be presented at the next cabinet meeting on the week of June 12. If endorsed, the allowance proposal will be included in the next Budget.
Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Ifereimi Vasu said if endorsed by Cabinet it will be imcluded in the next budget.
“The said monthly allowance of $200 would support the tribe leaders in carry out their traditional responsibilities in the vanua and for further development in the village and tikina (district).”
“Considering their responsibilities for the vanua and the village, we recognise the need to support them temporarily,” Mr Vasu said. “The funding for the allowance will come from the Government, and it will be included in the Budget, specifically allocated for this purpose.
There are a total of 1375 liuliu-ni-yavusa positions, but only 643 have been confirmed. Mr Vasu said the GCC concluded its meeting with decisions to enhance the iTaukei community.
“These decisions included endorsing the strategic review of the iTaukei Land Trust Board, iTaukei Land and Fisheries Commission, and iTaukei Administration. The GCC also supported the outcomes of the iTaukei Resources Owners forum held on March 3031,” he said.
In alignment with the President’s address on the economic advancement and poverty reduction among the iTaukei, the meeting emphasised that economic empowerment should be a priority for the GCC and other iTaukei institutions.