THE Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs) should not be subjected to parliamentary reporting because the iTaukei Trust Fund is independent of Government and funded through investments, says council chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula.
He said the Trust Fund was established as a statutory body under the iTaukei Trust Fund Act 2004 and did not receive taxpayer funding.
“Under the iTaukei Trust Fund Act 2004, the institution is a statutory body,” he told this newspaper.
“This means that it does not come under Government in any way.
“The iTaukei Trust Fund is also the financial autonomy of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga.
“Its funds are not from taxpayers. Its funds are from investment portfolios that they have invested in both local and international markets.”
Responding to the Constitution Review Commission’s proposal for the council to have its annual reports tabled before Parliament, Ratu Viliame said it was, therefore, wrong to assume financial reports on its spending should be presented to Parliament.
“The Trust Fund does not report to Parliament as Government does not give any fund to them in any way.”
He said the GCC’s financial affairs were still subject to internal accountability processes, including independent auditing.
“It’s private funding, it’s within the Bose Levu Vakaturaga,” he added.
“We got processes of accountability, it’s audited by auditors, it’s my job to make sure it’s properly used.
“The account is audited and my job is at the end of the November meeting, I’ll go table it at the council meeting, the budget we have spent.”
Ratu Viliame said the GCC secretariat’s financial and annual reports should similarly remain within its traditional structure.
“As for the financial reporting or annual reports of the GCC secretariat, the only August House the GCC secretariat reports to is the Bose Levu Vakaturaga.”
On the Constitution Review Commission’s proposal for the GCC to monitor sources of division and promote social cohesion, Ratu Viliame said the council was prepared to play a broader role.
“The GCC stands ready to lead its indigenous people, at the same time creating a conducive environment for the peace and prosperity of other ethnicities that live amongst us on this land.”
