The iTaukei Affairs (Amendment) Act 2023 has come into effect on December 1, a gazette notice published on December 15 states.
The Act allows the reinstatement of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) and was passed in Parliament on November 24.
The GCC was suspended in 2007 and subsequently removed altogether in 2012.
The GCC was established under the iTaukei Affairs Act of 1944.
The iTaukei Affairs (Amendment) Act 2023 amends the 1944 Act to insert an establishing provision for the GCC in the Act.
The Act also requires the iTaukei Affairs Board to refer to the council any questions relating to the iTaukei people that the minister may submit to the board.
The Act also amends Section 11 of the 1944 Act to require the minister to refer to the board or the council any proposed Bill that is intended to be introduced to Parliament and which may appear to the minister to affect in any important matter the rights and interests of the iTaukei people.
The board or the council, as the case may be, is then required to submit the proposed Bill with a memorandum, which is to be used in the parliamentary debate process.
