ALL unemployed iTaukei people residing in rural areas should return to their villages.
Naocobau Village headman Esira Masau and his Nabukadra counterpart Raivolita Malani made the submission to the Constitution Commission earlier this week in Ra.
The pair also suggested that iTaukei people be granted full ownership of fishing rights and mineral resources within their land boundaries. "Ownership of fishing rights should not be owned by the government but given to their rightful owners — the iTaukei," said Mr Masau.
"The iTaukei should also be given the ownership of mineral resources below the soil which is now owned by the government.
"We, the Nabukadra villagers, want the commission to return the ownership of the mineral resources below the land and the fishing rights to the iTaukei owners."
The two headmen, speaking on behalf of their people, also called for the reinstatement of the Great Council of Chiefs.
"The GCC is to look after the wellbeing of the iTaukei people and chiefs are the identity of the iTaukei," said Mr Malani.
"The government must also not allow gay marriages in the new constitution as it is against the teaching of the Bible," he said.
Mr Malani also suggested that the retirement age for civil servants be increased to 60 years and not 55 years as it currently stands.