From Fiji Sun (21 April 2026)

Kotobalavu submission to the constitution review committee

Items Relevant to Rotuma

As paragraph 1, recognise that the iTaukei and Rotuman communities were the first to arrive and settle in Fiji, and thus entitling them to be Fiji’s indigenous communities and the rights conferred upon them in the Constitution.

As paragraph 4, recognise the great significance to the Rotuman people of their Deed of Cession with the British Crown, through their Chiefs, in 1879, and the rights conferred upon them by Great Britain identical to those granted to the iTaukei and their traditional leaders. This included their right of self-determination to administer their governance under the Council of Rotuma.

For the Eastern Division, because of the scattered and widespread nature of the islands, and their small resident population, create 5 single member geographical constituencies, comprising 2 for Lomaiviti and 1 each for Kadavu, Lau and Rotuma

Based on Fiji’s population as estimated by the National Bureau of Statistics since the 2007 National Population Census, set the total number of seats in the House of Representatives at 60, and this is to be distributed as follows: Central Division 24, Western Division 22, Northern Division 9, and Eastern Division 5 [with 2 for Lomaiviti and 1 each for Kadavu, Lau and Rotuma, based on their respective resident population]

Restore the Senate in the 2013 Constitution, including:

a seat to be appointed by the Council of Rotuma. The right or entitlement of the BLV/GCC and the Council of Rotuma to nominate their Senate members derives from their right of special recognition conferred upon them by Great Britain in reciprocation of their cession to the British Crown of sovereignty over Fiji and Rotuma in 1874 and 1879 respectively. Their right to rule over their people was recognised provided they respected the laws of the British Colony.

So, their constitutional right to nominate their representatives in the Senate derives from their communities’ right of self-determination, and their solemn duty to ensure that any legislation or policy passed by the House of Representative does not harm or prejudice the rights and interests of the indigenous iTaukei and Rotuman communities.

Kotobalavu also strongly advocates the inclusion in the Constitution of express recognition of the Council of Rotuma as established under the Rotuma Act, and its responsibility to nominate a representative in the Senate to be appointed by the President, and to protect and safeguard the rights and interests of all Rotumans.

This recognition of the Council of Rotuma in Fiji’s Constitution is something new but the Rotuman people fully merits this. It derives from the reciprocal recognition given to them by Great Britain in return for the cession to it of sovereignty over Rotuma in 1879.

This is the origin of the right of self-determination of the Rotuman peoples to administer their island’s governance with the support of the central Government of the whole of Fiji.

From Fiji Sun (2 April 2026)

Kerosene Price Surge to Hit Families

Fijians who rely on kerosene daily for cooking, lighting or traditional obligations will now have to dig deeper into their pockets, as prices have recorded one of the steepest increases in recent months in the latest fuel price review effective today.

New prices released by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) show kerosene rising sharply across the country, with the biggest increases among all fuel products.

On Viti Levu, kerosene has jumped from $1.69 to $2.40 per litre, an increase of 71 cents. 

In Rotuma, the price has climbed even higher, rising from $2.38 to $3.14 per litre — a 76-cent increase.

The FCCC said the sharp increase was driven by a surge in international refined fuel prices, with kerosene rising by 59.80 per cent globally during the assessment period. 

It said diesel prices were also affected by similar global trends, while motor spirit and premix increases were linked to higher international benchmark prices and a stronger United States dollar. 

The commission noted that despite a drop in international freight rates, the overall cost pressures — including global supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions — pushed local prices higher. 

Kerosene, which remains VAT exempt, is widely used by low-income households, making the increase particularly significant. 

The FCCC said it had implemented measures to cushion the impact, including partial absorption of cost increases and close monitoring of supply chain costs.