Monday, December 31, 2012

The Year that was - letter to the Editor

Here's a good letter in today's Fiji Times and a happy New Year.

Year that was
IF ever there was an award for 2012 for certain events and attributes for the people of Fiji, these are my list of nominees in their respective categories.
* Song of the year — Azonto, it crazed both young and old.
* Disaster of the year — Cyclone Evan, struck in the middle of festivities and celebration.
* Slang of the Year — Nice Ga Re! / Wananavu Ga Re! Every Facebook fan would know this.
* Traffic offence of the Year — The Azonto Dancing Driver — he managed to escape the law.
* Epidemic of the year- Typhoid — claimed some innocent lives.
* Political event of the year — Constitution Submission and Review, a positive step to democracy.
* Sport of the year — Hockey — Restored the lost pride after consecutive losses in rugby.
* Man of the Year — Iliesa Delana, least expected to claim that gold.
* TV episode for the year — Short land Street, oilei sa oca mai! (It's been rolling for ages).
* Movie of the year — Yahamain Ghar Ghar Kheli — FBC TV next best thing to Gulong. I bet they have in some way or the other shaped 2012 to be what it has been! Happy New Year!
Waisale Ramoce
Ba

Friday, December 28, 2012

Fiji Christmas and New Year

Me Nomuni na marau ni Siga ni Sucu kei na tawase ni yabaki vou  Very best wishes for the Christmas holiday season and for the year 2013.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Our tauvu from Gau always have adventures

from Peceli,
I read with amazement this story of a family swimming in the sea for eight hours to survive after their boat overturned. The government ought to give our tauvu from Gau a new boat so they can be transported better during the Christmas holiday!  Their daily life is fraught with dangers like this. The story is in the Fiji Times today, Christmas Day.

8-hr swim for life

Torika Tokalau
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
TWO sisters will live to celebrate another Christmas all because of their mother's strength which saved their lives out in the open sea last Saturday.
The three were faced with a traumatic life or death situation, swimming for more than eight hours in the waters of Gau after the boat they were travelling in capsized.
They were thrown into the cold water when their boat hit a reef.
Marica Tamani, 32, and her two daughters, Asenaca, 13, and Adi Vika, 10, all from Lovu Village in Gau, were eagerly anticipating spending Christmas in the Capital City with their relatives.
At 3am on Saturday, they boarded a fibreglass boat from Lovu Village with three other men — packed, ready and looking forward to enjoying their first Christmas in the big city.
The plan was to attend Marica's grandmother's funeral on the same day at Pacific Harbour, then stay on until after Christmas.
It was an hour later, when their captain thought they had safely passed the Somosomo Reef that their traumatic experience began.
"Three big waves hit us and Orisi (one of the men in the boat) yelled out to the captain, asking him what was going on," said Ms Tamani.
She said all of them were thrown in the water when the boat hit the reef and capsized. She said the captain told the passengers to swim to shore while he went back to see if he could turn the boat over.
"Luckily for us, Waqa (the other man) was from Nawaikama. He knew the reef and the water better then all of us. He told us to aim for Somosomo village, to the hotel near the beach.
"It was still dark, the water was cold, current was strong and the stones and coral from the reef kept hitting our legs. Asenaca and Orisi had managed to grab a life jacket each when the boat capsized so they took Adi Vika on their shoulders and aimed for the beach.
"Waqa was swimming up ahead and kept calling out to us, kept swimming back checking if we were okay and if we were swimming in the right direction.
"Adi Vika was crying, she kept telling me she was hungry. I didn't know what to do.
"All I could tell her was to drink sea water and keep swimming. I was just praying, asking God to take away our hunger and fatigue and to give us the strength to keep going. I didn't want to lose my daughters and Orisi."
Ms Tamani and Adi Vika then hung onto a bamboo they had spotted floating nearby. By then, Adi Vika complained she could not go on any further as her hunger was weakening her.
"I have never prayed so hard like I did that day. All I could think about was how excited we were to get to Suva and how now, our lives were in danger.
"I didn't want to lose my daughters, I wanted to spend a good Christmas with them, I needed to save them. There were occasions when I felt like giving up, when I believed we couldn't make it but I had to be strong for my children."
"When we got to shore at Somosomo village, some women had prepared bele in coconut milk. They apologised they couldn't prepare anything else but I told them that after what we went through, anything they put on the table we would eat," Marica said.
"We found out that we had been swimming for more than eight hours. I am not a strong swimmer, so it was only through God that we managed to last that long.
"Even though we won't be spending Christmas in Suva, I am happy nonetheless that I still have both my daughters alive and well," said Ms Tamani.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

A new archbiship

from w
Congratulations to Father Peter Loy Chong on his appointment as the new archbishop of the Catholic Church in Fiji. A Jesuit  - now that sounds promising. They usually have fine minds are can be ecumenical in spirit.

from Fiji Village;
Fr. Peter Loy Chong named Archbishop-elect
Publish date/time: 20/12/2012 [17:13]
Pope Benedict XVI has announced that Father Doctor Peter Loy Chong a diocesan priest of the Archdiocese of Suva is the Archbishop-elect of Suva. 

Father Chong will replace the present long serving Archbishop of Suva, Petero Mataca who has expressed his gratitude to all the people of Fiji, Rotuma, Rabi & Kioa for their prayers & support during his time of leadership. 

Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Petero Mataca. 

The 79-year-old prelate had tendered his resignation upon reaching the age of 75, in conformity with canon 401 of the Code of Canon Law.

The Holy Father has appointed in his stead Fr. Peter Loy Chong who hails from Suva and from the Archdiocese of Suva, is currently in the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, Santa Clara University, California.

Fr. Chong was born in 1961 in Natovi and completed his priestly formation studies at Pacific Regional Seminary. 

He was ordained in 1992 where he was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Suva.

The Archbishop-elect completed his studies at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University with a Doctorate in Theology.

Official announcement on the appointment of Fr Peter Chong as the new Archbishop of the Catholic Church of Fiji is expected to be made by Nicholas House soon.


Story by: William Waqavaktoga

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Christmas letter from a Fijian abroad

from Wendy and Peceli


There were ten of us in the household earlier in the year – George’s family and Andrew’s family, though Andrew Snr, Eka, and Linlay now are in Nukualoafa, Tonga for a year, with Eka working as a pathologist. The teenagers Andrew and Jordan are at Geelong High School, Epa working full-time, Bale studying Aged Care Certificate and has worked part of the year at Lorne, George on his computer most times.  Peceli and I write up a couple of blogs – Geelong Visual Diary – http:geelong-visual-diary.blogspot.com  and the Babasiga blog, - http:babasiga.blogspot.com, with drawings and photos. I am still obsessed with Fiji news which under the dictatorship is still hardly the outcome we desire.

Jordan who finished Year Ten had his first knee surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital a couple of months ago.  The medical care is brilliant there and it’s such a wonderful hospital. The second operation will be in a few months time – all after an accident in Fiji three years ago.

Peceli is keeping very well and is gardening enthusiastically rather than playing golf. I’ve got a crook knee so that’s stopped me in my tracks!  Peceli and I help most weeks at Rotary Donation in Kind sorting books to send in containers to the Pacific and South East Asia.

Our family are members of the East Geelong Uniting Church where I help with piano/organ and on Sunday afternoons some of us go up to Altona Meadows/ Laverton to the Fijian service . There are numerous Fijian functions we are involved with such as the Fiji Geelong Friendship Club with kava drinking, yarning and hospitality.

A highlight for me personally was three days at the Emmaus Walk which was a really quality retreat with beautiful people at a camp in the Myrniong area.  Also, arly in the year over three months Peceli and I spent several weekends at Colac helping the Uniting Church people there with pastoral care and services. They are such lovely country people and it was a pleasure to spend time with them.

This year there were many bereavements with younger friends passing on. as well as our dear Aunt Mary Collins in Bacchus Marsh who was 99.  At the funeral the Lay and Collins families met up so that was very good.  Also, George took the boys to Fiji for the funeral of Robin’s wife Sala’s mother in Navuso.

Our house is full of computers, laptops, note-books, ipads,  smart phones, so we are all  hooked up and in our private worlds. I have 100 classical pieces of music on a tiny gadget!  This is so different to the time when we were young with only the radio. Then we did talk to one another around a table!

Advent and Christmas are special times and we enjoy the fellowship of the different churches we attend and the rich messages of the birth of Jesus Christ.  The road to Christmas though is full of bumps and distractions and parties that are evidence of our cbsession with consumption. We are currently preparing for a Carols program, a church dinner, and special events.

So that’s the round-up for the Ratawa family in Geelong for the year 2012. We are looking forward to news from friends and family from far and wide, though during the year Facebook has enabled us to keep in touch with many.

With love from Wendy and Peceli Ratawa  

While you were sleeping

from w
What is going on in the Sovi basin area while everyone focuses on Christmas, the cost of living, managing after a cyclone?  The greed of the huge mining industry needs to be examined.  What re they going to do at the headwaters in the middle of Viti Levu - headwaters that starts the water of life for several rivers including those that go down to the sea near Suva.  I am for conservation not mining because despite promises about cleaning up, it does not seem to happen so there's so much damage.  Look what happeneds in PNG!  Here's an article about Newcrest that I found on the web.

Master plan to address overlapping leases
Epeli Tukuwasa | FBC
Overlapping development works have been identified in the new National Land Master Plan says Director Land Use Samuela Naicegucegu.
Naicegucegu says one of the areas identified is the Sovi Basin which was issued with a Conservation Lease – only to be over-shadowed by a mining prospecting lease.
Namosi Joint Venture proposes to mine in Sovi Basin but the area has been set aside as a protected rain forest.
The land has been leased by Conservation International for 99 years starting from 1980.
Naicegucegu says this overlapping has eventuated because Ministries and departments weren’t coordinating in the past. Government Ministries and Institutions have been working in isolation without even realising how land in Fiji have been utilised.
The Master Plan should be complete by the end of this year for Cabinet approval and will put an end to overlapping leases.
----------
And from 'Real Jack' a contributor to a forum called Fiji Exiles Board.

That area where the Newcrest guys are setting up their operations is the SOURCE of the HEADWATERS which come down as the SOURCE FEED for the rivers which feed the water reservoirs for the WHOLE OF THE SUVA/ NAVUA/NADROGA/ TAILEVU/REWA region. It's that serious.
All the water for human consumption in this whole Suva basin and towards Deuba and Sigatoka and towards Tailevu all comes from that source up in the Namosi highlands which is the area where that Newcrest operation is being set up.
The mining extraction uses everything from cyanide to carcinogens to mecury.
This is stuff which has not reached the public yet but its only a matter of time


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

from Peceli
Greetings to all who read this babasiga blog.  As we are getting closer to Christmas may I take this opportunity of wishing you all a lovely Christmas and a happy New Year, especially for those who have been effected by Cyclone Evan in Fiji and Samoa and for Fiji people who are distant from their families at this time because they work overseas. I hope you have a very good year for 2013. One of the sayings that I like best is  'Live simply that others may simply live.'



Sunday, December 16, 2012

Cyclone Evan and Nadi town

from w
a map on facebook:


A message from a relative in Nadi was that the wind was rising and people were told to go upstairs, whatever that means where she is staying. It seems that the cyclone is close to the western towns, though at first I thought the media and govt were beating up the story and the cyclone was mainly out to sea.




(Later - Tuesday morning:  a message from Labasa: We experienced very strong winds for more 12 hours from mid night till mid day. Not much rain in Labasa. At tuatua just banana plant and  uto branches for uto fell. Power cut and its on now. No water cut.)  (Later again - the phones in Nadi are on - it is now Tuesday afternoon but our relatives says no power and no water in the hotel room.)





Here's what Fiji Village reported:



Hurricane force winds battering Nadi
Publish date/time: 17/12/2012 [15:10]
Tropical Cyclone Evan has now moved closer to Nadi.

The Nadi Weather Office said the centre of the category 4 cyclone is currently 65 kilometres North North East of Nadi.

Hurricane force winds amounting to 190 kilometres per hour gusting to 270 kilometres per hour are being experienced in Lautoka from the last hour. 

As highlighted earlier on Fijivillage, this will continue until tonight.

Nadi will start getting hurricane force winds from this hour. 

This will continue until tonight.

For people living in Sigatoka, please be advised that you will start getting hurricane force winds from 5.30pm today. 

This will also continue until tonight.

Storm force winds are now being experienced in Rakiraki, Tavua and Ba. 

These areas will get winds averaging 100 kilometres per hour gusting to 140 kilometres per hour.

A gale warning remains in force for Cikobia, Taveuni, the rest of Vanua Levu, and nearby smaller islands, Northern Lau and Lomaiviti, the Central Division including Suva and nearby smaller islands, Kadavu, Beqa and Vatulele.

A damaging heavy swell warning remains in force for Fiji. 

Sea and river flooding is expected from later today and this will be severe.

Close to its centre the cyclone is expected to have average winds of up to 185 kilometres per hour with momentary gusts to 270 kilometres per hour.
Due to the category 4 status of Cyclone Evan, the system is expected to affect many land areas.

Destructive winds may begin several hours before the cyclone centre passes overhead or nearby.



Saturday, December 15, 2012

Projected path of Cyclone Evan

from w
This is a projection using Fiji time of the possible pathway of Cyclone Evan, which means the centre will pass north of Vanua Levu tomorrow -(late Sunday).

Friday, December 14, 2012

Cyclone warning for Fiji

RSMC Nadi Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

TROPICAL CYCLONE THREAT TRACK MAP

Severe Tropical Cyclone EVAN Category 4

Tropical Cyclone Warning Number 30 issued 1000 UTC Friday 14 December 2012




Note: the past cyclone track may be adjusted on the basis of later information. The forecast track is considered the most likely based on the information available at time of analysis, and there may be other possible future tracks.

  Warning: Gales or stronger within 24 hours       Very Destructive Hurricane Force Winds
  Alert: Gales or stronger within 24-48 hours       Destructive Storm Force Winds
         Damaging Gale Force Winds
For the 24 hr and 48 hr positions, the three radii represent the extent of Hurricane, Storm and Gale winds away from the centre.

Name:     Severe Tropical Cyclone EVAN
Situation At:     0600 UTC Friday 14 December 2012
Location:     12.9S, 172.1W
Recent Movement:     WNW at 4 km/h

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Babasiga boy at Geelong High School


Jordan graduated today - Year Ten - at Geelong High School. Go babasiga! Individual Learning Program with 100% pass.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Mali island and tourists

from w
The people of Mali Island have got used to visitors since the tribe wanted project and their eco-tourism development on adjacent Vorovoro Island with employment for Mali Island men and women and numerous visits to the school by the young eco-travellers..  Now the villagers from Mali are hosting programs for the Captain Cook cruises so that is a bonus and provides money for development projects.  Ten years ago if you googled Mali, you got some strange country in Africa with barely a mention of 'Mali Island' except in babasiga blog!  The home of Peceli's mother and many relatives.

Tourism pays off

Serafina Silaitoga
Thursday, December 13, 2012
VILLAGERS of Mali Island in Macuata know too well the good things tourism has brought to their village shores since the visits started last year.
The four villages on the island that sits opposite the Fiji Forest Industries of Malau have been able to achieve a few village projects from the tourism income.
Nakawaga Village headman Semi Ulunasobu said the tourists had visited their village three times already.
"We never used to have these visits from tourists in the past years. Their first visit was last year and every time they come to Labasa, they get off on the island for an evening of entertainment," Mr Ulunasobu said.
"We also prepare their lovo dinner with the Captain Cook Cruises team and the tourists get to see how a lovo is made by the villagers," he said.
He added that tourists had provided funds for villagers with every visit made to the island.
"Our only source of income here is the sea and we travel to Labasa to sell the fish or other sea provisions. The visit by tourists has now become another source of income for us and it has helped us a lot," Mr Ulunasobu said.
"We now use the tourism funding for major village projects sparing villagers from financial burdens."
Mr Ulunasobu said village elders had also seen the advantages of having tourists over to the village.
Last week, more than 30 tourists on board Captain Cook Cruises ship Reef Endeavour visited Nakawaga Village where they were entertained with meke and dances.

Show me the money!

from w
Despite a great deal of sentiment for the British royal family and many years since Fiji became a republic but still kept the Queen's image here and there, now it's time for the coins and banknotes of Fiji to replace that familiar face with that of a fish or iguana. Hmm. Some people will not be happy. The launch of the new designs was held this week and the money will be in circulation soon. Show me the money!








Tuesday, December 11, 2012

A leaked constitution article

from w
I switched on the radio to ABC this morning about 7 am. and it was world news. I was surprised to hear the voice of Dr Brij Lal talking about the new constitution or at least a leaked version in simple language. Did they really intend it to get to the blogs first?  Anyway there are no real surprises and a few things to be wary of amidst the good points.


Fiji constitution recommendations leaked

Posted Tue Dec 11, 2012 5:22pm AEDT
Fiji could soon have a largely ceremonial president, to be chosen by a new body known as the Assembly of Fiji.
That's one recommendation included in a leaked report from Fiji's Constitution Commission.
The draft copy of the recommendations is to be officially handed to President Raty Epeli Nailatikau before Christmas, but copies are now available on several blogs.
The leaked document proposes the same number of seats for Fiji's parliament, a term reduced to four years and no senate.
It says the Prime Minister should be limited to two terms.
Fiji has been run by an interim government for six years and democratic elections aren't due until 2014.
The commission has proposed one vote for either an individual or a party, with 71 MPs to represent the four existing electorates.
The report also suggests a review of land laws and measures to address poverty and corruption.
Dr Brij Lal, an academic who co-authored Fiji's 1997 Constitution, has seen the recommendations.
"As I read the document, the President will be elected by an assembly of Fiji which will include the President, Prime Minister and representatives from a hundred or so organisations in the country, NGOs and so on," he said.
"On paper it looks good, but I think that it's problematic in the sense that it sets up a rival centre of power if you will"
He says there are some good initiatives in the recommendations.
"Moving away from a system of racial representation, I think that's a good thing," he said.
"The term of parliament has been reduced to four years which is not necessarily a bad thing."
However, Dr Lal says many questions still need to be answered.
"The document [will be] translated into a constitution, how that is ratified, what provisions of the draft are significantly altered to accommodate the demands of the military, these are questions that we will have to address at a later date."

Fiji's Constitution: A Consultation Document

Monday, December 10, 2012

Also by Alisi Daurewa

from w
I found this article by Alisi from two years ago where she points out that colonialism controlled Fijians in many ways. It's a point of view that needs to be told, though traditionalists would be disturbed by some of the discussion.
Flawed engineering
Alisi Daurewa
Saturday, August 14, 2010

Colonial administrators outside Fiji's first government complex in Levuka

THE proposed village by-laws by the Ministry of i Taukei must be examined carefully to take into consideration, the impact of the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB) on Fijian society and its 'snowball' effect of chiefly and land disputes, on community development.

Otherwise, the inability of village leaders to manage change and development may transform from the 'frying pan into the fire'.

The VKB is an import from post colonialism.

It is a register of indigenous Fijians maintained by the Native Lands Commission (NLC).

It was introduced by the colonial administration to determine land ownership.

In the 19th and early 20th century, when Fijians were selling land for others who couldn't defend themselves or, out of attraction for firearms, there was so much confusion over land rights that traditional practices were abandoned.

In response, the Colonial Administration registered land ownership by 'mataqali' or sub-clans.

Ratu Savenaca Seniloli, a Baun chief who recorded boundary claims in 1903 appealed to the Governor against the 'mataqali' because it was a western concept and that the 'tokatoka' or household was more appropriate. (France, 1969).

Furthermore, the VKB, as noted by Fijian writers like the late anthropologist Dr Rusiate Nayacakalou and academic Dr Alumita Durutalo brought rigidity to a Fijian way of life that was traditionally mobile and a chiefly system that was earned and not inherited.

Some members of Fijian society have benefited from the VKB by an elevation from 'lesser to higher role'. Others had to abandon their traditional roles because they did not meet the VKB criteria of seven social task roles of chief, spokesperson, carpenter, fisherfolk, warrior, priest and administrator.

Therefore, those who belonged to the Melanesian characteristic tribe of elders were conditioned by the process of VKB to fit themselves into the polynesian hierarchical system of local governance which was prevalent in Eastern Fiji and adopted social task roles mentioned above that were not traditional.

The following is a present day consequence of the 'one size fits all' concept of the VKB;

Earlier this year, I learnt of a village dispute where some elders argued over the order in which the ceremonial cup of yaqona should be consumed.

The assistance of the NLC was sought and officials visited the villagers to facilitate discussions.

During the meeting the officials based on information recorded in the NLC asked the villagers as to who held the positions of chief, spokesperson, priest and warrior.

There was confusion over these roles and sitting arrangement so that by the end of the day after the meeting, the villagers were more confused than before the arrival of the officials from the NLC.

Traditionally, the village was a tribe of elders with a spokesperson whose social task role was called the matanivanua.

This role changed to chief under the VKB registration in the 1920s.

The demarcation of household sites in the village today indicates a circle of tribal elders while the spokesperson and adopted households sit outside the circle.

The question I would ask the proposers of the village by-laws to ponder is: "How can I best apply justice to a people who are victims of social engineering by a foreign system that their leaders have failed to address in line with change and development?"

These are the personal views of the author.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=153613

Conference paper about the Fijians

from w
At a recent a conference in Fiji a paper was presented that looked at the lapita migrations to Fiji and then the add on was some remarkable points linking India with Fiji. The headline in the paper certainly got attention. The speaker is a young Fijian woman, Alisi Daurewa, who has  strong views against traditional entities such as the Council of Chiefs so it is not surprising that she was given space to talk. However what it has got to do with a law conference is my question!

From Sai Lelea:

Coup Apologist's Potty Research in Support of Illegal Regime Charter

Sai's Comments:


The research referred to below, if one can ethically regard it as such, can only be regarded as a loopy and potty attempt to cast the illegal regime's Charter in a historically convenient context for native Fijians. Given the publicity and platform afforded the findings, no less than the illegal Attorney General's conference, it confirms to all the real motive behind the sordid enterprise. No one with their right mind to the known and accepted history of Fijian migration, would ever accept the findings of a research aimed at historically sugarcoating a key platform of the illegal Bainimarama regime's rule. Those able to see through it, will know it is no more than a fraudulent attempt at linking the regime's Look North Policy to the migration of Fijians.

I would be interested to know who commissioned the research and what in fact could possibly link the question of the illegal regime's Charter to the migration of Fijians? We all know the Charter has been forced on the people of Fiji by the regime. It has not been endorsed in any transparent way or implemented in a manner where its impact can be reasonably assessed. How on earth can Ms Daurewa embark on researching its impact? With such questions in mind, it is plausible to then question her motive or those of her sponsors. In my view, one gets a good glimpse of that from the platform given to the research and Ms Daurewa's known sympathy of the Bainimarama regime. It is a sad day for native Fijians when people of her ilk allow themselves to be exploited in such ways.

Fiji Times News

India link to 1st Fiji settlers

Ms Daurewa said her presentation titled Colonial Structures: Understanding the experience of the iTaukei - was a small part of findings of a research project on the impact of the (illegal regime') People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress on provincial councils.

THE iTaukei is a conflict-ridden society and much of this predicament was created by a colonial history which created anomalies — one of them being teachings of where the iTaukei originated from.

In a presentation immediately after the opening of the Attorney-General's 14th Conference at the Intercontinental Resort in Natadola yesterday, participants were told that Lutunasobasoba was not the founder of the iTaukei race.

In fact, according to educationist and civil society leader Alisi Daurewa (picture above left), the iTaukei arrived in different canoes and ships, and primarily are a mixed breed of Melanesian and Polynesian, "added to which, Indian, if it can be proven that the Lapita people were sea merchants from Tamil Nadu in India".

"The education system teaches that Lutunasobasoba is the founder of the iTaukei race. Anthropological and oral records reveal he was a late arrival, possibly as late as the 17th century. He was, in fact, the ancestor of some chiefs who worked in the colonial administration in the 19th century."

"Coincidentally, this was during a time when a competition for tales was organised by Namata 1892 newsletter, and the author with the Lutunasobasoba theory won." Ms Daurewa said the latest Indian connection came out of a research on the Lapita people by the East West Centre in Hawaii.

While some historians and scholars claim the dark-skinned Melanesian people made their way to Fiji first from the islands of Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the eastern Solomon Islands, evidence suggest the Lapita people — tall light-skinned people with straight hair — were first.

The Lapita people are described as the ancestors of Polynesia and came from South East Asia.

They are believed to have travelled through Melanesia in which the Lapita people lived among the Melanesians for 1500 years (1900BC to 400BC) before expanding out to colonise all of Polynesia. The Lapita people are believed to have spread eastwards and colonised Fiji, Samoa and Tonga 3500 years ago, which predates the arrival of the Polynesian people in the Pacific by about 1300 years.

Ms Daurewa said her presentation titled Colonial Structures: Understanding the experience of the iTaukei - was a small part of findings of a research project on the impact of the People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress on provincial councils.

"In exploring the historical context of the subject, as a participant researcher, I discovered some interesting facts about the iTaukei, their origin and local government system, and the implications of these at a time when we are working towards an effective constitution for Fiji," said Ms Daurewa.

The Kadavu native and University of the South Pacific lecturer Ashwin Raj, were speakers in the Constitution and Constitutionalism segment of the conference, along with Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Ms Daurewa said the Fiji local government system, adopted from our colonial past, separated the iTaukei group from other ethnic groups. Colonialism, she added, had four common features that effectively transformed the lives of people - support for local elite group, economic, geographical demarcation, law and order

"For Fiji, these features translated to five institutions - the Native Administration which supports the local elite group; the Native Land Trust Board for economic development; the Native Land Commission for geographical demarcation; and the Wesleyan missionaries who arrived much earlier and pacified the people to ease law and order by the Native Constabulary. "These five institutions remain with us today under changed names," she said.

----------
How it was written up in the Fiji media:

India link to 1st Fiji settlers

Margaret Wise
Saturday, December 08, 2012

THE iTaukei is a conflict-ridden society and much of this predicament was created by a colonial history which created anomalies — one of them being teachings of where the iTaukei originated from.
In a presentation immediately after the opening of the Attorney-General's 14th Conference at the Intercontinental Resort in Natadola yesterday, participants were told that Lutunasobasoba was not the founder of the iTaukei race.
In fact, according to educationist and civil society leader Alisi Daurewa, the iTaukei arrived in different canoes and ships, and primarily are a mixed breed of Melanesian and Polynesian, "added to which, Indian, if it can be proven that the Lapita people were sea merchants from Tamil Nadu in India".
"The education system teaches that Lutunasobasoba is the founder of the iTaukei race. Anthropological and oral records reveal he was a late arrival, possibly as late as the 17th century. He was, in fact, the ancestor of some chiefs who worked in the colonial administration in the 19th century."
"Coincidentally, this was during a time when a competition for tales was organised by Namata 1892 newsletter, and the author with the Lutunasobasoba theory won."
Ms Daurewa said the latest Indian connection came out of a research on the Lapita people by the East West Centre in Hawaii.
While some historians and scholars claim the dark-skinned Melanesian people made their way to Fiji first from the islands of Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the eastern Solomon Islands, evidence suggest the Lapita people — tall light-skinned people with straight hair — were first.
The Lapita people are described as the ancestors of Polynesia and came from South East Asia.
They are believed to have travelled through Melanesia in which the Lapita people lived among the Melanesians for 1500 years (1900BC to 400BC) before expanding out to colonise all of Polynesia.
The Lapita people are believed to have spread eastwards and colonised Fiji, Samoa and Tonga 3500 years ago, which predates the arrival of the Polynesian people in the Pacific by about 1300 years.
Ms Daurewa said her presentation titled Colonial Structures: Understanding the experience of the iTaukei - was a small part of findings of a research project on the impact of the People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress on provincial councils.
"In exploring the historical context of the subject, as a participant researcher, I discovered some interesting facts about the iTaukei, their origin and local government system, and the implications of these at a time when we are working towards an effective constitution for Fiji," said Ms Daurewa.
The Kadavu native and University of the South Pacific lecturer Ashwin Raj, were speakers in the Constitution and Constitutionalism segment of the conference, along with Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Ms Daurewa said the Fiji local government system, adopted from our colonial past, separated the iTaukei group from other ethnic groups.
Colonialism, she added, had four common features that effectively transformed the lives of people - support for local elite group, economic, geographical demarcation, law and order
"For Fiji, these features translated to five institutions - the Native Administration which supports the local elite group; the Native Land Trust Board for economic development; the Native Land Commission for geographical demarcation; and the Wesleyan missionaries who arrived much earlier and pacified the people to ease law and order by the Native Constabulary.
"These five institutions remain with us today under changed names," she said.