Opposition MP Mosese Bulitavu says chiefs need to work for the benefit of their people.

Appearing on FBC TV’s 4 the record last night Bulitaivu spoke about the research he did on the chiefly system.

He says that the Great Council of Chiefs had become an elite body serving its own interest and people at the grassroots still need capable leadership.

“Yeah we cannot go back to the criteria that we followed back then. We are in the day of modernization and we need chiefs that are educated, chiefs that understand the law, the legal system, the business and they should lead by example on how they are going to take their people into impacting the economy, national development and to be the voice and to encourage them to work with investments that are there, government program in order for their people to benefit.”

Bulitavu says there are official records that show that pre-colonial i-Taukei tradition dictated that a chief was chosen based on strength, leadership abilities and merit and not under the inheritance system that exists today.