Nai Lalakai trial: Katonitabua describes iTaukei priorities

FOUR top issues raised by the iTaukei community are land, the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), religious groups and chiefs with regards to vacant positions.

Ministry of iTaukei Affairs permanent secretary Naipote Katonitabua mentioned this while being cross-examined by the Fiji Times Company lawyer Wylie Clarke in the Fiji Times sedition trial underway in the High Court in Suva.

Mr Katonitabua said these are issues that are dear to the iTaukei community and which they usually come up with all the time during consultations.

Nai Lalakai editor Anare Ravula, The Fiji Times editor-in-chief Fred Wesley, the company’s general manager and publisher, Hank Arts, the company and a letter writer, Josaia Waqabaca, are charged with one count each of having published or caused to publish or aided and abetted the publication of a letter in the Nai Lalakai newspaper on April 27, 2016 that was alleged to be seditious.

The trial continues tomorrow.