The Head of the Burebasaga Confederacy Marama Na Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa has released a statement where she says that it is clear to her that the Minister for iTaukei Affairs Voreqe Bainimarama made the unfortunate decision to exclude the Confederacies in the traditional welcome ceremony of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Ro Teimumu says it must have been Bainimarama’s decision to mention the President and Prime Minister instead of the Confederacies.
She says she also believes it was Bainimarama who also ordered the withdrawal of the traditional invitation extended to the Kubuna and Burebasaga confederacies.
Ro Teimumu says she cannot confirm if the Ministry officials had seen the Tui Cakau before they were instructed to withdraw the invitations.
Ro Teimumu says those holding high chiefly titles sometimes choose not to talk publicly about certain things but in this instance, speaking for Burebasaga, she feels it is her duty to comment on a most unfortunate episode.
She says it has deeply hurt many of our people who also feel insulted by what happened.
Ro Teimumu says Bainimarama and his iTaukei Ministry should now tell the people why they felt compelled to act as they did because what happened undermined the traditional significance of the Confederacies.
She says this is unprecedented.
Ro Teimumu says she had learned that the Confederacies would not be mentioned in the Royal Programme, and they would be replaced by references to the President and the Prime Minister.
She says there was no explanation for this break from established tradition except that it came from ‘the top’.
The Marama Na Roko Tui Dreketi says she feels it is important for her to provide these details in light of the numerous comments on social media and elsewhere about the decision not to involve the Confederacies.
She says that it was not Vuda which made that decision, it was iTaukei Affairs.
Ro Teimumu also says that the Permanent Secretary Naipote Katonitabua should stop misleading the people by passing the blame for what happened to Vuda.
She says that kind of decision is far beyond Katonitabua’s ‘pay grade’ and that of Taukei Sawaieke, Ratu Tevita Momoedonu of Vuda.
Ro Teimumu says on momentous public occasions, such as the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Confederacies, through long held custom, are represented in ceremonies and rituals.
She says that the indigenous people understand and appreciate this, and so do all the people.
Ro Teimumu says when planning was underway for our country to host the Duke and Duchess, she received a visit from officials of the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs.
She says that they made customary presentations and invited the Burebasaga Confederacy to participate in the ceremonies of welcome for the Royal Couple.
The Marama Na Roko Tui Dreketi says using the authority that goes with her title, she accepted the invitation on behalf of her Chiefs and the people of her Confederacy to be part of the rituals and actions to be performed for the Duke and Duchess.
She says the Duke will always occupy a special place in Fiji as he is a direct descendant of Queen Victoria. She says the high chiefs of Fiji in 1874 ceded our islands to the Great Queen, her heirs and successors.
Ro Teimumu says Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, is directly descended from her, just as Ro Teimumu is a direct descendant of the Roko Tui Dreketi of 1874, a signatory to the Deed of Cession.
Ro Teimumu says three weeks later, she received another visit from the officials.
She says again it was formal in procedure, however this time, they were visibly embarrassed.
Ro Teimumu says it seemed to her the iTaukei Affairs officials had their tails between their legs.
She says to her surprise, she was told that the invitation extended to the Burebasaga Confederacy was now withdrawn. She says she would rather not disclose the rest of the conversation.
Ro Teimumu says she gives an assurance that our indigenous culture and traditions will remain intact.
She says we are who we are, and she is who she is.
We are currently trying to speak to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama who is currently in Rotuma.
