YES WE CAN!
Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs complex to open Friday
Posted at 17:29 on 21 September, 2009 UTC
A multi-million dollar meeting house of Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs is to be opened this Friday, four years after construction began.
This comes despite the military led regime having disbanded the Council soon after it took power in a coup nearly three years ago.
The body is now being re-constituted under new rules laid down by the interim Government.
Fiji Live reports that the former President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, is expected to be confirmed by the Government as guest of honour for the opening.
Before the construction project began, the GCC had hoped a member of the British Royal Family would open the complex, because of the close ties between the monarchy and Fiji’s chiefs.
But this will not happen given the suspension of international links with the regime.
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Fiji chiefly meeting house gets name change
Posted at 01:38 on 22 September, 2009 UTC
The multi-million dollar meeting house built as a home for Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs is now likely to be officially called just Meeting House, Vale ni Bose.
The new venue in Suva is due to be officially opened this Friday, however the GCC itself has been suspended since 2007.
But a former Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, Sitiveni Rabuka, says he believes the body will be formed again at some stage:
“It is still in the Fijian Affairs Act, although the members have not been appointed, the council is a living council it is provided for in the Fijian Affairs act and I have no doubt it will come back into being.”
After its dissolution, the interim regime brought in new membership criteria for the GCC.
Sitiveni Rabuka, who has previously called for the abolition of the chiefly system, says the Council in the future will solely provide advice to the government on indigenous affairs.
News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=49234
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Bainimarama will have to accept he cannot control Freedom of Blogs & Freedom of Speech by the Fiji People & Friends of Fiji. He needs to wake up and realise Fiji is not his to destroy, Fiji belongs to the People & the People have every right to choose how they wish to be governed.
Gone are the days where army commanders & their guns can dictate their wishes to the People.
Stand Strong and Stand Fast, Fiji. Having done all continue to Stand against those who stand in opposition to Truth and Justice . Take Martin Luther King Jr for example, who marched for freedom and withstood respectfully, humbly but continuously and determinedly against the oppressions of his day and towards his race . Take Mahatma Ghandi who with “soul force” withstood the evil oppressions of his day and against his race, and in so-doing seized his own destiny and his people’s deliverance . Be encouraged and be resolute Fiji for ” Nothing and no-one can stop an Idea whose Time has come “. A Free Fiji ? Your time has come !
Vinaka Selina. Great to hear of solidarity from valued Fiji citizens. Lets all hold hands & go forth chanting “Freedom in Fiji”!.