Given women equal rights: Submission-maker

A 69-year-old Rotuman woman, the first submission-maker at the Nadera Catholic Hall in Nasinu told Fiji's Constitution Commission that she wants equal rights for women in the country's new constitution.

Mere Nakaora while making her submission to the commissiners said women from her Island should be allocated two seats in parliament as they deserve equal rights and treatment.

"We need to be heard more and should get more and equal rights in government," she said.

She also mentioned that Rotuma should never gain independence from Fiji as the government has always done a lot for the people of the Island.

"The government has done a lot for us and I want them to develop Rotuma just like they have developed their towns and cities."

She also raised issues regarding Rotuman Chiefs not consulting fellow Rotumans before making decisions on behalf of them.

Meanwhile, during the same constitution process,  a 43- year- old mini-bus operator, Avenai Daubitu raised concerns about chiefly i-Taukei titles being used without respect.

“The names or titles such as Ratu or Adi come through inheritance according to the Fijian Culture but nowadays it has just become too common as it does not portray any respect to the title,” said Daubitu.

"People can refer to anybody as a Ratu or Adi if he or she is i-Taukei." he added.

The submissions continue tomorrow at Bhawani Dayal Arya College, Nasinu.

By Indrani Krishna