Banaban Women - Shop for items

[Stacey King]

FIJI TIMES ONLINE SERAFINA SILAITOGA Friday, September 21, 2012

WOMEN of Rabi Island want the new constitution to recognise the need to expose their talents through the marketing of their products.

Rabi Island councillor Titaku Kabung said the women on her island needed a lot of empowerment and government support was imperative.

“That is why we will make known to the Constitution Commission this essential need of our women in marketing their products,” Mrs Kabung said.

She said Rabi women had a lot of talent but it didn’t get the recognition it deserved because of the lack of exposure.

Mrs Kabung said this was why they needed to market their products to other parts of Fiji.

“This can be done with the opening of the new jetty soon on the island,” Mrs Kabung said.

She said women on the island depended on the sea for income.

“Even though they have the talents to design handicraft items, they have not been able to develop it further and expose it because of lack of marketing opportunities,” Mrs Kabung said.

An awareness workshop would be held next week to prepare the villagers for the Constitution Commission’s visit next month.

Mrs Kabung said they attended a Citizens’ Constitutional Forum workshop in Savusavu last week which prepared them for the community awareness program next week. She said islanders were urged to make submissions.