“Sa rui levu na vosa e tau tiko me baleta na vanua, vakaturaga e Viti. E levu na gauna sa tau tiko na vosa ena veitikotiko vakaturaga, levu na gauna o ni sa biliraki ka dusi. 16 na Yabaki o ni a sa talaraki, o ni a sa yali yani. Ia na Kalou e sega ni rawa vakadua ni talaraka na bai e bulia.”
For 16 years, the chiefly institution in Lau was dismantled and its leadership exiled – but the vanua never let go.
Those were the powerful words of Rewa chief Ro Aca Mataitini, who yesterday presented a vakavinavinaka to newly-installed Tui Lau, Tui Nayau and Sau ni Vanua o Lau, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara.
Speaking on behalf of Rewa paramount chief Ro Teimumu Kepa, Turaga na Tui Macuata Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, and Bau chief Ratu Josefa Celua, Ro Aca said the people of Fiji had witnessed the restoration of rightful leadership.
“A chief has only one duty to his vanua and that is to lead his people,” Ro Aca said.
“There’s so many things that have been said about the various chiefly domains around our nation, so many words spoken against our chiefly institutions, our chiefs were often sidelined and ridiculed.”
He recalled Ratu Tevita’s long exile in Tonga and the enduring hope held by the people of Lau.
“For 16 years, this institution was dismantled, you had left. But God would never tear asunder the ramparts He has built.
“The past few days has shown that the vanua has always waited, and that showed in the way they celebrated your installation.”
The occasion also marked Ratu Tevita’s first official engagement as paramount chief, during the opening of the Lau Provincial Council meeting on Lakeba.
