There is no clear timeline as to when the government will enact village bylaws, says Assistant Minister for iTaukei Affairs Isikeli Tuiwailevu.
Asked when will the village bylaws come into place, Mr Tuiwailevu said not any time soon.
“The permanent secretary and minister are handling the planning and implementation,” he said.
Mr Tuiwailevu said the government was still considering broader issues, including indigenous rights, in its approach to village governance frameworks.
“At the moment, we are also considering the rights of indigenous communities. The village bylaws may be included in the action plan.”
On whether enforcement against drugs in rural communities are not effective without formal village bylaws in place, he said local structures still had a role to play.
“I believe it is a good idea to implement village bylaws to help fight against drugs within our village communities.
He said relevant authorities needed to ensure proper consultation with stakeholders before any final decisions were made on the bylaws.
He said no final decisions had been made on implementation timeframes.
