Lau Provincial Council's Newest New Chair.

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Bole is new Lau Provincial Council Chairperson

Wednesday, July 13, 2011


Filipe Bole is the new chairperson of the Lau Provincial Council – replacing Adi Ateca Ganilau who was elected into the position yesterday.

The decision was made this morning after government asked the Bose ni Yasana to reconsider the leadership of the Council – following an outburst by Adi Ateca against the Peoples Charter and the government at yesterday’s close of session.

Commissioner Eastern Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni told FBC News government made it clear that assistance to the province and the people of Lau would continue and not be affected – but they would not be able to work with Adi Ateca after the comments she made.

The delegates were asked to deliberate further on the stance of the chairperson – due to her outburst yesterday – in which she clearly showed her intention that she is not willing to work with government.

That’s the gist of government’s message this morning – that if this is the stance of the chairperson, it is unfortunate and government will not be able to work with someone who does not see eye to eye with government’s development plans.


Leweni adds the Council was given an hour to discuss the issue and after deliberations appointed Education Minister Filipe Bole as chair.


He says they had no problem with Adi Ateca’s election as chair until she made the outburst.
Prime Minister’s Office official Kisoko Cagituivei told FBC News Adi Ateca agreed to step down after Leweni told the Council government could not work with her.

The forced resignation of the Adi Ateca Ganilau, the elder sister of the fugitive Tevita Mara, was an inevitable outcome, following her unwarranted remarks.

Adi Ateca Ganilau steps down from Chairman’s post
Publish date/time: 13/07/2011 [13:11]


The chairperson of the Lau Provincial Council Adi Ateca Ganilau who was appointed yesterday has stepped down from the post in the last hour.

As the final day of the Provincial Council meeting continues in Nadi, Education Minister Filipe Bole has now been appointed as the Chair of the Lau Provincial Council while his deputy is Roko Josefa Dalainauluvatu.

Adi Ateca Ganilau stepped down after one hour was given by Commissioner Eastern Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni to the 40 official council members to sit together at the meeting venue and discuss the importance of development in the province and the benefits of supporting the People’s Charter.

Lieutenant Colonel Leweni addressed the council members this morning after Adi Ateca said that she does not support the People’s Charter and the leadership.

Lieutenant Colonel Leweni told Fijivillage after his speech that the Chair and members of the Provincial Council should think of the people of the province of Lau and set other issues aside that would hinder the developments in Lau.

He also said people should remember that the Provincial Councils are governed by the I-Taukei Affairs Act and are fully funded by the government.

The Lau Provincial Council had supported the People’s Charter when it was first taken around to the councils.

Lieutenant Colonel Leweni said he cannot say why Adi Ateca decided to reject the Charter yesterday despite the earlier endorsement of the council.


Story by: Vijay Narayan and Tokasa Rainima

Ganilau's departure from helm of the Provincial Council, is in no uncertain terms, a recognizable and irreversible flushing out of individuals with ties to Tevita Mara (currently in Australia) and the final nail to the coffin of the Mara clan, politically speaking.

PM directs return of reef to Oneata

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Taken from / By: Google

Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has instructed Fisheries Permanent Secretary Commander Viliame Naupoto to freeze all licenses and regulations with regards to the qoliqoli rights of the people of Oneata to their reef - known as Bukatatanoa.

Oneata elders told the PM on the island last night that the qoliqoli rights to the reef was given to Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to manage in 1979 - as he was to advise them on how best the reef should be utilised.

However two years ago, according to the elders, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara informed them that the Bukatatanoa reef qoliqoli rights now belonged to the Tui Lau, and this was gazzetted through the Department of Fisheries.

FBC News has sighted documents that the reef was gazetted to the Tui Lau in 1994 under then Native Fisheries Commissioner the late Navitalai Navunisaravi.

Oneata elders say this was done without their knowledge, nor were discussions or meetings held on the matter, and they did not raise the issue further - out of respect.

However last night, the elders raised their concerns with Bainimarama who directed that all rights governing the reef be re-looked at, and that only the people of Oneata would be able to use and manage the reef.

Report by : Apisalome Coka

The Mara legacy of decade long dominance to provincial affairs in Lau, has overlapped to questionable business ties. 

One particular case of Bukatatanoa reef involving the Mara clan's sense of patrimony, that abuses their cultural authority to a degree bordering on criminal.

Bainimarama reverses Mara rule
Writer : Losalini Rasoqosoqo in Lau
6/16/2011

Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has reversed a decision made by the late Tui Nayau, the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
This is over the ownership of Bukatatanoa Reef at Oneata
Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, on a week-long tour of Lau, met Oneata islanders on Tuesday night.
During the meeting, he ordered proceedings to start for the return of Bukatatanoa Reef to Oneata islanders after it was gazzetted in 1994 that the reef belonged to the Tui Lau, Ratu Mara.
The reef was given to Ratu Mara to manage then through his status as Tui Lau. The elders told Commodore Bainimarama that the fishing rights to the reef was given to Ratu Mara to manage in 1979, as the Tui Lau.
Fiji Sun gathered that it was gazetted to the Tui Lau (Rt Mara) in 1994 under the then Native Fisheries Commissioner, Navitalai Navunisaravi.
The elders say this was done without their knowledge, nor were discussions or meetings held on the matter. They said two years ago, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, son of Ratu Mara, informed them that the Bukatatanoa Reef fishing rights now belonged to the Tui Lau.
Ratu Tevita is now labelled a fugitive after he fled to Tonga recently while facing a sedition charge.
Commodore Bainimarama told the elders that the traditional fishing grounds, their rights and ownership, would be given back to the people of Oneata.
He told them that there would be no more licenses issued for fishing in their traditional fishing grounds or i qoliqoli.
Prime Minister Bainimarama gave instructions to the Fisheries Department Permanent Secretary, Commander Viliame Naupoto, for all fishing licenses to be stopped so that the people of Oneata can enjoy their rights to the Bukatatanoa, a reef believed to be rich with seafood.
Commodore Bainimarama met Oneata islanders at Waiqori Village.

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