From Fiji Broadcasting Co. (2 October 2026)

Rotuma's incinerator wait continues

By Rakesh Kumar

ROTUMA will have to wait for its own hospital incinerator, with the Government prioritising five other sites before extending incinerator capacity to the remote island.

Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu told Parliament on Tuesday that Rotuma was among the facilities planned to eventually receive an incinerator, but no specific timeframe was given for its construction.

"The plan is to have all subdivisional hospitals with their own incinerator capability," Dr Lalabalavu said.

For now, clinical and hazardous waste from Rotuma Hospital is transported to the Biosecurity Authority incinerator on the island for destruction, with the health team providing fuel to Biosecurity to support the process.

General and non-hazardous waste was instead taken to the local community dump.

Opposition MP Joseph Nand pressed the minister for a timeframe on when Rotuma's incinerator would be built.

Dr Lalabalavu said the Government's immediate priority was Naboro, Sigatoka, Rakiraki, Taveuni and Kadavu.

"After those facilities are done, then we can move onto Rotuma and other facilities that do not have incinerator capabilities."

He said completed work at Naboro was awaiting approval for installation of the incinerator unit, while Sigatoka had secured environmental approval and funding for construction and procurement this financial year.

Dr Lalabalavu said Rakiraki remained in the environmental impact assessment phase, while environmental management plans for Taveuni and Kadavu had been approved.

From Fiji Broadcasting Co. (2 October 2026)

Constitution Bill opens pathway for Rotuma independence

By Apenisa Waqairadovu

A new constitutional pathway could allow Rotuma to begin a process that could eventually lead to it becoming an independent state.

For the first time, the proposed Constitution gives Rotuma its own dedicated constitutional chapter.

Clause 154 recognises Rotuma as a “sovereign indigenous entity within the Republic of Fiji” and recognises the Rotuman people as a sovereign indigenous people of Fiji, with their own language, culture, traditions and land-tenure rights.

The proposed Constitution also gives the Rotuma Island Council powers for the internal government and administration of Rotuma.

Importantly, Clause 156 creates a specific “right to initiate an external self-determination process.”

Under the provision, the Rotuma Island Council could, after consulting the Rotuman people, unanimously resolve to begin consultations with the Fiji Government on the possibility of Rotuma becoming an independent state.

However, that resolution would not make Rotuma independent.

The Bill sets out several further requirements.

There would first have to be a cooperative consultation process between Rotuma and the Fiji Government.

The Government would then have to formally agree to independence.

A referendum would have to be held to determine the majority view of the Rotuman people.

At least two-thirds of the members of the Rotuma Island Council would also have to vote in favour.

And the Constitution itself would have to be amended to give effect to independence.

This is a significant departure from the current constitutional framework.

The 2013 Constitution does not contain a dedicated chapter giving Rotuma a constitutional pathway to independence. Rotuma’s governance is instead provided for through legislation, including the Rotuma Act.

The proposed Constitution therefore moves Rotuma’s position from being primarily a matter of ordinary legislation to one with specific constitutional recognition, autonomy provisions and an expressly defined self-determination process.

The Bill also gives the Rotuma Island Council a strong role in any future constitutional changes affecting Rotuma.

Under Clause 210, a Bill affecting Chapter 9 or constitutional provisions relating to Rotuma or Rotuman people cannot even be introduced into Parliament unless it has first been approved by a two-thirds vote of the Rotuma Island Council.

From Fiji Broadcasting Co. (24 September 2026)

Remote facilities gain reliable power

By Riya Mala

Remote health facilities are getting more reliable power, helping strengthen healthcare services in some of Fiji’s most isolated communities.

Rotuma Hospital is now Fiji’s second fully solarised Subdivisional Hospital, with a 40-kilowatt system.

From Fiji Times Online (23 September 2026)

Draft Constitution opens pathway for Rotuma to seek independence

By Anish Chand

Rotuma would be given a constitutional pathway to begin a process towards becoming an independent state under Fiji's proposed 2026 Draft Constitution.

The provision allows the Rotuma Island Council (RIC), following consultation with the Rotuman people, to unanimously resolve to initiate discussions with the Fiji Government on the possibility of independence.

Such a resolution would allow the RIC to formally notify Government and enter into good-faith consultations. However, initiating the process would not automatically result in independence.

Under the Draft Constitution, Rotuma could only become independent if several conditions were met, including a cooperative consultation process and the formal agreement of the Fiji Government.

A referendum would also have to be conducted to determine the majority view of the Rotuman people, while at least two-thirds of RIC members would have to vote in favour of independence.

Finally, Fiji's Constitution itself would have to be amended before Rotuma could become an independent state.

The draft also proposes significant internal self-government powers for Rotuma. The RIC would be responsible for Rotuma's internal government and administration and the welfare of its inhabitants.

Its proposed powers include making laws and regulations covering peace, order and good governance, internal revenue raising and the management of Rotuman land and associated territorial and archipelagic waters and their resources.

The RIC would also have responsibilities for protecting and transmitting Rotuman language, culture, customs, traditions and heritage.

Significantly, Government decisions on legislation, policy or development applying to Rotuma would be subject to the free, prior and informed consent of the Rotuman people, with the RIC determining whether that consent had been obtained.

The State would also be required to provide adequate funding for the RIC to exercise its functions and support infrastructure and other development agreed to by the Council.

The provisions are contained in the 2026 Draft Constitution released with the Constitution Review Report and remain proposals rather than law.