Only the iTaukei can be appointed as the Turaga Ni Koro for a village - Kurusiga

Only the iTaukei can be appointed as the Turaga Ni Koro for a village and there is no change to this system by the government.

Deputy Secretary for iTaukei Affairs Apakuki Kurusiga has made this clear after his earlier comments that non iTaukei can take up the iTaukei village headman’s position.

According to the proposed village by-laws, it is clearly stated that the Turaga Ni Koro or village headman is appointed under the iTaukei Affairs Tikina and Village Council Regulation of 1996.

When asked for clarification by Fijivillage, Kurusiga says he is now correcting himself and stated that only the iTaukei can take up the position and nothing is changing.

He says the iTaukei are those whose names appear in the Vola Ni Kawa Bula or the Native Land Register.

SODELPA Leader Sitiveni Rabuka today called on the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to stop interfering with villages and the iTaukei administration.

Rabuka was responding to Apakuki Kurusiga’s earlier comments that have now been corrected.

He says it is mischievous and irresponsible for Kurusiga to try to shift the debate to the suitability or otherwise, of non‑indigenous being appointed Turaga Ni Koro.

Kurusiga stresses that there are no changes in relation to this issue and the current government is not dismantling the iTaukei institution.

Rabuka also says that questions about the allowance to given to the Turaga Ni Koro for many additional responsibilities placed on them under the proposed village bylaws, are also not being answered.

He also claims that the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs stopped the allowance for the Somosomo Turaga ni Koro a few weeks ago, apparently on the instruction of the Prime Minister.

Kurusiga has clarified that the Turaga Ni Koro was not carrying out his responsibilities in Somosomo and that is why the allowance was stopped.