Tui Lau Backs GCC in Constitution Review

The Tui Nayau, Tui Lau and Sau ni Vanua ko Lau, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, has voiced strong support for the Great Council of Chiefs’ (GCC) involvement in Fiji’s constitutional review process.

In a statement, Ratu Tevita expressed his “full and unequivocal support” for the GCC and its chairman, Ratu Viliame Seruvakula, over consultations conducted on behalf of the iTaukei people.

He said the GCC consulted 278 chiefs across all 14 provinces, representing communities comprising more than 504,000 iTaukei.

Ratu Tevita described the consultations as a deliberate and culturally grounded process of representation, reflecting traditional chiefly decision-making.

He warned against dismissing the GCC’s consultation process, saying doing so would risk undermining the authority and role of the chiefly institution.

Ratu Tevita also emphasised that the GCC is not a partisan body, but an institution with responsibilities relating to iTaukei identity, land and custom.

He called on Parliament to approach debate on the Constitution Review Commission’s report with “generosity of spirit”, urging all sides to engage with the process with care, humility and respect.