There's been a call in Fiji to keep commoners out of the restructured Great Council of Chiefs.
The Fiji Times reports that the call has come from a Macuata province chief, Ratu Isireli Raseisei, in his submission to the task force reviewing the Great Council .
Ratu Isireli says having politicians and other such commoners as members of the Great Council is a disgrace to the chiefly status of Fiji
He says in the past commoners and invited guests took up most of the Council's time speaking about indigenous issues while chiefs were made to look like an uneducated group.
Ratu Isireli says the reviewed body should only include Fijian chiefs because they have the mandate from their people to make decision over issues that concern the indigenous community.
He says since it is the Great Council's role to look after the interests of the indigenous community, it is only fair that chiefs become its members.
