FIJI'S PROVINCIAL COUNCILS REJECT PRIME MINISTER'S MEMBERSHIP OF GREAT COUNCIL OF CHIEFS
SUVA (Pacnews) - Twelve out of the 14 provincial councils in Fiji do not want Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry to be a
member of the Great Council of Chiefs, Radio Fiji reported today, reports Pacnews.
The report said representatives of the provinces made this known at the Council meeting in Suva last week. However,
Council Chairman Sitiveni Rabuka said the Chiefs did not decide on the issue because it was not the right forum.
"This (the meeting) is not where the decisions of the provincial councils come forward. The provincial councils make
their views known to the Ministry of Fijian Affairs, and that is put forward to the Fijian Affairs Board for processing
for the Great Council of Chiefs deliberation," Rabuka said.
Asked why the Council of Chiefs deferred a decision on the matter when almost 90 per cent of the provinces wanted
Chaudhry out, Rabuka said the Chief's Council was different from the provincial councils. Radio Fiji News was told that
only two provinces - Lau and Serua - did not take a decision on Chaudhry's membership, saying they would go along with
whatever decision made by the Chiefs.....PNS
+++niuswire
This document is for educational and research use only. Recipients should seek permission from the copyright source
before reprinting.
PASIFIK NIUS service is provided by the niusedita via the Journalism Program, University of the South Pacific. Please
acknowledge Pasifik Nius: niusedita@pactok.net.au http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/nius/index.html