ABOUT 90 per cent of chiefly titles in the Lau Group have now been filled, says Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu.
Speaking at the Lau Provincial Council meeting at Tubou Village yesterday, Mr Vasu said his ministry had been working across the islands in the lead-up to the Tui Nayau installation.
“We made sure to do this before the chiefly ceremony of the Tui Nayau and that has happened,” he said.
“Now that the Turaga na Tui Nayau has been installed, we will move on to fill whatever positions are left.”
He said the traditional events held on Nayau and Lakeba had been made possible through the cooperation of the people, the Lau Provincial Council and the ministry.
“This traditional event at Nayau and now in Lakeba have been made possible with the help of the people, my ministry, the provincial council of Lau and all those who participated,” Mr Vasu said.
The ministry will now turn its focus to the rest of the country.
“We have been doing that and we will continue because this is important for our people, our children and our future generation,” he said.
He acknowledged ongoing challenges, including intra-clan disputes.
“It’s a challenge for us when we lose our chiefs, who depart this world before us and having to deal with different issues on the ground amongst clan members,” he said.
“While we have filled about 90 per cent of chiefly vacant positions in Lau, there are still differences between mataqali members and we come in to work with them.”
