Macuate Chiefs Want Officials Present

Chiefs want more presence
www.fijitimes.com - Friday, May 15, 2009


DISTRICT representatives to the Macuata Provincial Council meeting yesterday called for the presence of government officials at their district meetings.

Turaga Sauvou Udu Ratu Emori Waqanivalu said officials would know the needs of the people if they were present. Ratu Emori said people in his district were suffering because of high transportation costs." The last village in our district is about 90 kilometres from Labasa and villagers pay as much as $300 to $400 in boat hire charges from there to Nayaroyaro," he said.
"Because they have to pay that much, they don't want to make a living off copra because almost all the income they get is flushed into paying transportation costs. "We want roads to be built so that all the villages in the district don't have to keep on paying boat hire charges. "Most cannot afford to pay so they just live off the sea and usually run into high debts during times of emergency when they have to rush a relative to hospital."

Acting Commissioner Northern Inia Seruiratu assured delegates the district office has been directed to organise a team that would attend every district meeting. "Only the heads of department must be available at provincial council meetings to answer to questions that come from the floor," he said.

Macuata chair vacant
By Theresa RalogaivauFriday, May 15, 2009

THE Macuata Provincial Council does not have a chairman after an amendment to the Provincial Council Regulation, which falls under the Fijian Affairs Act. Under the new rules, former chairman Isireli Leweniqila's has relinquished his position one year before his term was to have expired. The chairman is elected every three years, however the amendment requires that any person chosen to be a district representative to any provincial council must have lived in the district 12 months prior to the appointment. That disqualified Mr Leweniqila, the mata ni tikina (representative) of Udu district, because he lives in Suva. Soon after the opening of the two-day meeting on Wednesday the bose vanua or meeting of chiefs of Macuata decided to accept and implement the amendment made late last year.

According to the Macuata Provincial Council Office, further determinations about which of the 12 district representatives would lose their position would be made soon. "We will have to look into their place of residences and identify who will be removed from their position because of the amendment," a council official said. Tui Macuata Ratu Aisea Katonivere said Mr Leweniqila was an unfortunate victim of change and as such the province had lost a good chairman. "It's sad that he had to leave because of a technicality but we are happy with his resolve in accepting the decision of the bose vanua to implement the change," he said. The council will decide on deputy chair Adi Senimili Dyer chairing the council in the next half-yearly meeting in October.

Province's $3.2m debt under scrutiny
By THERESA RALOGAIVAUFriday, May 15, 2009

MACUATA'S $3.2m debt with the Fiji Development Bank was scrutinised at the province's council meeting on Wednesday. Macuata district representative Vereti Veisamasama raised the matter. Mr Veisamasama said an initial amount of $3.2m was borrowed for the construction of Macuata House yet the total amount of repayments has exceeded $7m over the past 10 years.
However Mr Veisamasama said the current debt level remained at about $3m despite the $7m repayments. "The interest rates are just too high and we should be informed about why it's too high," he said. Fiji Development Bank manager Mosese Uluicicia said the current loan repayments and debt levels reflect a true picture of what should happen.

"We receive about $500,000 year in loan repayments and from that about $200,000 is interest, $11,000 insurance and other money for fees so the debt is decreasing by only about $200,000 every year," he said. Mr Uluicicia said that the bank chopped interest rates from 13 per cent to 7 per cent on the loan late last year on the request of the provincial council office.
"The council saved about $100,000 for interest alone as a result of that while the bank lost," he said. Roko Tui Macuata Sitiveni Lalibuli said the council paid about $36,000 a month in loan repayments; of which $32,000 was for interest. "However that was when interest rate was at 13 per cent yet now that they have reduced it, it has also dropped to about $18,000," he said.
"As at April 6 the debt level is $2,922,963.51," he said.

New Policy New Roko Tui - What a Sham by an Illegal Regime

Provinces have new Roko Tui
Thursday, May 14, 2009

PROVINCIAL offices now have their new Roko Tui after a new policy on the posts by the Indigenous Affairs Ministry came into effect. The policy says no person is to serve as roko is his or her province.

In Lau, the new Roko Tui is Ratu Josefa Navakaroko, who previously served in his home province, Naitasiri. Ratu Josefa has been replaced by Peni Sokia who was Roko Tui Lau. Samisoni Tuilawaki has been demoted to Assistant Roko for Namosi while Sakiusa Karavaki has been given the Roko Tui post. In Serua, Setefano Osonamoli has replaced Ratu Vananalagi Vesikula. Roko Tui Tailevu Joape Nalatu, from Nadroga will continue in the position. For Kadavu, Osipati Tuicalau has been replaced by Vuniyali Dawai from Nadi. The ministry is yet to confirm the Roko Tui Cakaudrove but acting in the position is Penijamini Tokaduadua. In Lomaiviti, the post is held by Ratu Etonia Seru, eldest son of the late Tui Levuka, Ratu Kolinio Rokotuinaceva. In Nadroga, Viliame Naburenivalu from Ba replaced Lote Naitasewa who has retired from active service.

Tui Nawaka Installation

Ratu Manasa to be installed Tui Nawaka

www.fijilive.com - November 05, 2008

More than 100 chiefs from around Fiji are expected to converge in Nawaka village in Nadi this Friday to witness the installation of the Tui Nawaka.

Ratu Manasa Qoro who is the younger brother of the late Tui Nawaka Ratu Joeli Lesavua will be anointed by the Vanua of Nawaka as their high chief.

Speaking to FijiLive this afternoon, spokesperson Ponipate Lesavua said they are anticipating the installation of Ratu Manasa.

“This will be a grand occasion and we expect a lot of people to attend especially chiefly families from around the western division.”

Lesavua said Nawaka has not experienced any difficulties or arguements in the past in terms of the Tui Nawaka title.

“Unlike our fellow tribesmen in Nadi were the title has been disputed for more than 45 years.”

He said the people of Nawaka will always respect their chief.

The district of Nawaka consists of 12 villages altogether including Nawaka, Namulomulo, Vatutu, Evuna, Tubenasolo, Nagado, Natawa, Vunamoli, Nawaqadamu, Uto, Rararua and Dreke

Ratu Meli is new chair

Ratu Meli is new chair
www.fijtimes.cm - Thursday, April 30, 2009

TAUKEI Navo Ratu Meli Saukuru has been appointed the new chair of Ba Provincial Council.
He was deputy chairman and acting as chair when the post became vacant following the death of Tui Tavua Ratu Ovini Bokini in January.
His chief goal is strengthening unity in Ba, the biggest province in Fiji.
"The first thing I want to do is to bring everyone together," he said.
" am honoured to be given this task and I will serve my people to the best of my ability," he said.
Taukei Sawaieke Ratu Tevita Momoedonu was elected deputy chairman.

Listen to authority, chief tells subjects

Listen to authority, chief tells subjects
www.fijitimes.com - Reports by MARGARET WISEThursday, April 30, 2009

NADROGA'S paramount chief, the Ka Levu Ratu Sakiusa Makutu, has urged his people to be obedient and to listen to those in authority.
Echoing the sentiments of Methodist Church pastor Seremaia Bose, the paramount chief told his people they must prepare themselves for the changing economic climate.
He said the military was in power and asked his people to "varorogo" (listen).
Accompanied by his wife, Ratu Sakiusa arrived at the provincial council meeting in a wheelchair. He told council members he was recovering from a second amputation and had just recently been discharged from hospital.
"I had the first amputation six years ago. I thank God that I am alive and I am very fortunate that I able to be here today to chair this meeting," he said.
Mr Bose said people must remember their roles to the vanua, their families and their community and not be misled by detractors.
"Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God," he said.
"Some people think that being a Christian is about worshipping in Church and there are people who are against soli to the vanua.
"Your deeds and teaching to your family, to your community and those around you is more important. Jesus did not oppose taxes so do not be misled.
"People are being laid off work, you have hundreds who will retire, and then you have those who have had a pay cut from reduced hours. This is where you need to play your role and be prepared to help those around you."

Chiefs told of vacant posts

Chiefs told of vacant posts
www.fijitimes.com - Thursday, April 30, 2009

THE chiefs and traditional leaders of Naitasiri were told not to be complacent and try to install the vacant traditional positions in the province by 2010.
New Naitasiri Roko (provincial administrator) Peni Sokia said this was an important subject being raised in the December meeting of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga.
He said there are only 57 traditional posts filled out of the 124 in Naitasiri.
Mr Sokia said that it was important for all the clan head positions to be filled as soon as possible.
He said chiefs at that BLV meeting were concerned with the number of traditional feuds that ended up in the courts.
Speaking in Fijian, Mr Sokia said it was important to note that a deterrent to big developments in provinces and districts was the number of traditional posts being left vacant for too long.
He said this is what the Fijian Affairs Board and the Native Land Commission would try and work on achieving this goal with the co-operation of the Fijian people.
Naitasiri paramount chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata told the Naitasiri Provincial Council that he would soon summon a bose vanua for the province to work out a programme to ensure that all vacant traditional posts were filled.
He said he would work with the Naitasiri Provincial Office, the NLC and the chiefs in the province to ensure that all vacant traditional positions in Naitasiri were filled towards the end of the year.