More than 200 chiefly titles are vacant in the Lau Province, says Lau ProvincialCouncil chairman Ratu Meli Saubulinayau.
Ratu Meli said a team was overseeing the formal installation of chiefs and encouraging those who were eligible to step up.
“We are trying to encourage the chiefs from the villages to do their due diligence, and gather the support for the installations of the heads of mataqali, and the heads of the yavusa.” Ratu Meli said.
“There are more than 200 chiefly titles vacant in Lau, including the heads of the yavusa, and the heads of the mataqali. We can only encourage them. If they are not willing to do it, it will be hard for us. We are only trying to encourage the people in Lau, and of course the majority who are in Viti Levu, and search for those people to give their approval.
“This will take time. It’s better to start now before the end of the term which is in three years.”
“We at least should get 100 per cent of those people installed.”
He said the reason many have moved to Viti Levu is mainly because of the lack of education and employment in the villages.
“We are thinking of trying to encourage them, but the main problem is the high schools, universities and employment,” he said.
“If we have those in the villages, it will be good. It can encourage the people to go back.”
Minister for iTaukei Affairs Iferemi Vasu had also highlighted the same issue last week during the Lomaiviti Provincial Council meeting, saying there is a need for more traditional chiefs to be formally installed.
