The Lau Provincial Council has agreed to support government’s commitment to implement the United Nations Declarations of the rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP).
Speaking at the opening of the Lau Provincial Council meeting yesterday, Lau Provincial Council chairman Ratu Meli Saubulinayau said the endorsement is to “give the iTaukei the freedom to be iTaukei”.
“The last administration, the had put a noose around the necks of the iTaukei people,” Mr Saubulinayau claimed.
“We couldn’t even speak. Now that we are free, we’ll be able to push for what is right for us.”
Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu said the proposed UNDRIP is to achieve respect for all iTaukei.
“We respect everybody, but with this, we are trying to achieve is the respect for indigenous people,” Mr Vasu said.
“I have already taken the Bill to Cabinet, now it’s coming through the normal process of consultation, goes through the Solicitor General to properly put it together before it goes up to Parliament.”
