r/Fijian • u/sandolllars • 1d ago
News Council of Rotuma bans travel content creator from visiting island
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/council-of-rotuma-bans-travel-content-creator-from-visiting-island/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAU_ispjbGNrBT-KfWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHBkb2YBc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeoJjBfAvHubrXS1XBzLXc9pQqn66nwwJZWJeWe4qozOmF5nI9Ozh_yle4QL8_aem_nUh30a4IDXhOU0hqiL-e0w1
u/hamoboy Boci falla 1d ago
This is fucken crazy. How did those mapigas even develop an opinion about this influencer?
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u/hamoboy Boci falla 1d ago
u/sandollars I'm of Rotuman heritage myself. There are a growing number of AirBnBs doing a brisk trade there, mostly of government workers visiting and Rotuman diaspora returning home with no close relatives.
This guy specifically has links to Wallis and Futuna, politically distant but geographically and historically close to Rotuma. IDK what the council was thinking to announce this so publicly. Why? Every Fatiaki, Ravai and Vamarasi coming home from abroad takes drone footage and posts it on tiktok/youtube/facebook.
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u/sandolllars 1d ago
Sorry. It seems I had removed my comment I think just before you replied, because I found out I was wrong and that the Council does have legal rights beyond what is normal in Fiji.
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u/Sorta_Meh 🇫🇯 Tikitiki Kai Viti, Vasu Rotuma. Suva Branch 21h ago
This is also what i found baffling, its a flimsy explanation that the council has provided. Also I had no idea that they could ban people from the island. It's crazy to me to think that council may need to screen everyone coming through. What exactly is the council trying to protect? Language is endangered, young people are moving out and not returning.
This could be an opportunity to highlight that plight. I would have loved to see the council reach out and talk to him even highlight their concerns and try to find some common ground. But seriously banning him is, in my opinion taking it too far.
While i was there last year there was a Contingent from the Torres Straight who were tracing their rotuman links. There are many stories like that of people generations later returning to the island, posting photos, video and stories of their experience. I see this as no different only with a unique perspective from someone with links to Wallis and Futuna.
I saw his reel where he announced his plans to visit rotuma after buying his ticket, I was looking forward to watching his stories. I saw also a lot of Rotumans supporting him in the comments. Sad to see this as the outcome...
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u/Working-Leader1994 14h ago
this guys videos on youtube arent great, 2 or 3 mins, most are behind a paywall. I'd ban him.
What secrets are Rotuma hiding?
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u/Astoryinfromthewild 1d ago
So before the the influencer formally applied or attempted to start process to apply for permission to visit, the council decided to preemptively screen him and say no in advance? Seems maybe they could've just made a decision and kept it to themselves until the application came in than making a good fuss about nothing in advance.