DESPITE the increase of village headman monthly allowance from $75 to $87 in this year’s budget, there have been calls for further increment.
District representatives told Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama during a talanoa session in Sawaieke Village, Gau on Thursday last week that the increase should consider the variety of duties they played in their villages.
Representatives said considering the increase in village nurses allowance, it was time to increase the allowances of village headmen who oversaw the administration of villages.
There had also been suggestions on the need to construct special homes for village headmen since they were responsible for catering government delegations during their visits to villages.
Mr Bainimarama was told that sometimes government delegations were billeted to other homes in villages that had better facilities such as the conveniences.
He was also told that the special houses madefor the village headmen should be passed on to the next incumbent of the post.
Meanwhile, an iTaukei Affairs Board representative at the meeting told delegates and Mr Bainimarama that the increase in allowances for village headmen and district representatives would be
addressed at a later time.
He also said that no special homes would be built for village headmen but Government would continue its housing program in villages throughout the country.
In the 2018/2019 National Budget, the iTaukei Affairs Board was allocated $9.1 million for the operations of the board, provincial councils, village heads and district representatives, which covers
the monthly allowances of village headmen to better support their roles in developing communities.
