About 3000 people are expected on Bau Island for the Great Council of Chiefs from the 23rd to 25th of next month.
Ratu Aisea Komaitai, chief herald to the recently installed vunivalu Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, confirmed this yesterday.
Requests for a breakdown of the $400,000 budgeted for the three-day meeting, and the review committee appointments, were referred by iTaukei Affairs Minister Ifereimi Vasu to his permanent secretary Pita Tagicakirewa.
Attempts to get comments from Mr Tagicakirewa yesterday were unsuccessful. This newspaper had asked questions on the make-up of the review committee after concerns were raised on social media platforms that the team was not representative of all confederacies.
Speaking to The Fiji Times yesterday Ratu Aisea said the vanua of Bau was ready to host the meeting with assistance from Government.
He said traditional protocols would take place on day one, while the meeting proper would take place on May 24-25.
Ratu Aisea said facilitating the meeting would cost $400,000 and the people of Bau were solely responsible for the catering and had budgeted $30,000 for the three days.
“Even Bauans living overseas have pledged their support and will give financial contributions towards the catering,” he said.
Meanwhile, in relation to the review committee, Mr Vasu said the selection was done following proper procedure.
“The vacancy was advertised, we did not select them on our own,” he said. “They had gone through the interview panel.”
Former Republic of Fiji Military Forces land force commander Jone Baledrokadroka will lead the seven-member GCC review team.
The members are; Timothy Daniel (formerly known as Ratu Timothy Tavanavanua), Dr Eci Nabalarua, Graham Leung, Malakai Naiyaga, Mereani Rokotuibau and Dr Apisalome Movono.
The review team’s work was expected to take four months and would include national and provincial consultations.
Once completed, they will present a report to Mr Vasu for consideration by the iTaukei Affairs board and Cabinet. The review committee was expected to meet on Bau tomorrow.
