Fiji Melanesian Community and the Fiji Melanesian Council

The Fiji Melanesian Council represent the descendants of Melanesian Labourers from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea that were brought to Fiji during the black birding system of labourers from 1864 to 1906. The descendants of Melanesian labourers’ also known as the Fiji Melanesian community or Melanesians are different from the iTaukei or indigenous Melanesians of Fiji due to their historical background and their social and economic status in Fiji. According to the 1987, UNDP Poverty Report, the Fiji Melanesian Labourers descendants are the most marginalised group of people in Fiji which is due to their status of poverty and landlessness.

Winston Halapua, 2005 on his book “Melanesian of Fiji - Living on the Fringe” stated that Melanesian descendants poverty was the result of the type of labour recruitment which their ancestors went through in the past and the labour system and policies of governance that governed them during the Colonial era. Halapua also stated that Melanesians have been victims of developments by past governments that forced their relocation from the land, which they have occupied for more than 100 years.  This has led to their continuous isolation, low self-esteem and inferior complex perpetuated by the discriminatory policies of various governments of the past. Today Melanesian continues to face threats from iTaukei and freehold landowners, the iTaukei Land Trust Board and Housing Authority on land development for housing purposes.

In 1987, the Melanesian community formed the Fiji Melanesian Community Development Association (FMCDA) also known as the Fiji Melanesian Association in response to threats from Nationalist Fijian Politician that demanded the repatriation of non-iTaukei to their country of origins and instigated that Fiji belongs to the iTaukei, or indigenous Fijians. However, in 2013, the Fiji First Government called for the formulation of a new Constitution that is inclusive and with a common identity and citizenry as one of its focus which the Fiji Melanesian Association took the opportunity to submit for the recognition of descendants of Melanesian labourers that existed in Fiji from 1864.  The FMA also submitted the review and changes to some out-dated government policies that continue to discriminate Melanesian descendants. 

This has resulted in the recognition of indentured labourers from British India and the Pacific Islands including Melanesian descendants who came during the black birding system of labourers from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and PNG.  The provision of Fiji’s Constitution led to the establishment of the Fiji Melanesian Council to facilitate the recognition through dialogue with agencies that could help in the recognition, preservation of culture, tradition and customs and social and economic advancement of the Fiji Melanesian Community as a whole.

The change of names and structure of the Melanesian Community governance was the result of a report by a working committee established within the FMA in 2013 to review the FMA position and roles and have recommended the following;

a.     Dissolution of the FMA and the establishment of the Fiji Melanesian Council;

b.     Retrieve lost Melanesian culture, tradition and languages due to past atrocity faced by Melanesian ancestors during the colonial era;

c.      Liaise with government in highlighting discriminatory government policies that contributes to the drawbacks of Melanesian descendants in Fiji;

d.     Coordinate issues faced by Melanesian descendants;

e.     Facilitate the discussion on the formalization of all informal Melanesian settlements in Fiji;

f.       Promote the social and economic development of the Fiji Melanesian Community. 

After the establishment of the FMC in Levuka in 2014, the first FMC meeting was held in New Town Nasinu, Suva on July 2015, through the financial contributions of some Council members and the New Town community. The Council meeting was the first of many Melanesian Community meetings where all tribes and clans were present and attended by government representatives from the various Ministries and Departments that provided advice on government programmes and projects available in their Ministries and Departments.  

 

List of Fiji Melanesian Council Members

 

 

NO	NAME	TRIBE/ORIGIN	AREA
1	Richard Koi	Buka PNG	Ovalau and Eastern Division
2	Lorosio Waqa	Pentecost Vanuatu	Ovalau Eastern Division
3	Antonio Tiko	Ambae  Vanuatu	Ovalau Eastern Division
4	Jimi Tawai	Bali Solomoni	Ovalau Eastern Division
5	Selai Murray	Wai Solomoni	Ovalau Eastern Division
6	Inoke Sololo	Vataleka/ Kuwarai Solomoni	Ovalau Eastern Division
7	Jimi Rido	Bali  Solomoni	Vanua Levu
8	Jone Kalakai	Kalakena  Solomoni	Vanua Levu
9	Jotame Ratuloa	Vataleka Kuwarai	Vanua Levu
10	Gasio Rokoduru	Abrim	Ovalau Eastern Division
11	Agnes Abong	Malekula Vanuatu	Viti Levu and Vanua Levu
12	Jack Koi	Buka  PNG	Fiji Wide
13	Eileen Moli	Ambae  Vanuatu	Fiji Wide
14	Eparama Siga	Sadro Vanuatu	Central Eastern
15	Tomu Nawako	Sadro Vanuatu	Northern and Western
16	Jone Sade	Merelavo Vanuatu	Fiji Wide
17	Maikeli Tukana	Lakoni Vanuatu	Fiji Wide
18	Akanisi Bole	Motalava Vanuatu	Fiji Wide
19	Miachle Malo	Maevo Vanuatu	Fiji Wide
20	Gasio Rokoduru	Abrim Vanuatu	Fiji Wide
21	Tome Anikisuna	Marata Solomoni	Central Eastern
22	Jale Tora	Marata Solomoni	Northern
23	Are Maori	Marata Solomoni	Western
24	Kelemedi Vokona Replace Aminiasi Abariga February Deceased  2015	Bali Solomoni	Viti Levu
25	Tomasi Aloi	Wai Solomoni	Suva Nasinu
26	Are Marika	Wai Solomoni	Viti Levu South
27	Jale Suvadi	Kalekana Solomoni	Suva Central
28	Demesi Kedei	Vataleka/Kuwarai Solomoni	Viti Levu
29	Jeseva Lasea	Kuwaio Solomoni	Central
30	Fulori Lasea	Kuwaio  Solomoni	Eastern
31	Akuila Cama	Kuwaio Solomoni	South and Western
32	Joe Sanega	Chairperson Solomoni	Wailoku
33	Lucy Abong	Deputy Chair Vanuatu	Fiji Wide
34	Laisa Rayawa	President Melanesian Women’s Wing Solomoni	Fiji Wide
35	Are Marika	Youth President Solomoni	Fiji Wide