The Lomaiviti Provincial Council chairman, Joji Qaranivalu, says they want to do away with the mentality of depending on government handouts.
During an interview in Levuka, Ovalau, he thanked Government for assisting the province with various infrastructure development.
As development partners, he said their role was to ensure villagers were assisted without depending much on Government.
“No matter what kind of development that comes into the village, be it a capital project, a minor project, there is always two sides of the coin to it,” Mr Qaranivalu said.
“We must always play our role to serving people on the ground, otherwise it will be seen as a handout from government and we will gradually become of the thinking to depend on handouts.
“On the other side of the coin we will continue to do our part in development.”
Meanwhile, Mr Qaranivalu also raised the issue of vacant traditional roles.
“Traditional leadership is something that cannot be gazetted, it has to be done with discussion and consensus.
“This is the best way of leadership where we discuss at this level, through consensus, where the elders would sit down and discuss on who to lead.
“So, for anyone to lead, it has to come through this process, this is where the wisdom of the elders comes in.”
