Close family and friends of Bau’s high Chief Ratu Epenisa Cakobau made their way to Bau Island after a team of police officers took him and several others for questioning this morning.

Police Commissioner Brigadier Gen. Sitiveni Qiliho says this comes after Ratu Epenisa and others were adamant to continue the installation ceremony despite the decision being called off by the Native Lands Commission yesterday.

Bau landing just outside of Nausori was filled with a large number of people who were on their way to witness the installation – when they were informed it was being stopped.

Abhay Nand, a close family friend of Ratu Cakobau says he was not expecting this.

“I was looking forward to this, in fact I was away overseas and I came back earlier just to attend this function. Just because I was born and breed in Nausori and the Ratu and myself and people from Bau we go a long way back. When I came this morning, there were police here so I was a bit surprised as I didn’t go through the news and I’ve been told Ratu is not on the island so I’ll go back.”

Ratu Epenisa was supposed to be installed as the Vunivalu of Bau on the Island today however the NLC instructed the Police to stop it.

NLC Chair Ratu Isireli Vananalagi says they received a letter from Ratu Joji Kadavulevu Cakobau, his elder brother, disputing the installation.

Vananalagi says the NLC met with the four chiefly households of the Tui Kaba clan to try and resolve their differences but no agreement was reached.

Vananalagi says a protocol was breached in the selection of proposed candidate Ratu Epenisa and the Turaga Na Roko Tui Bau has also withdrawn from his duties in the installation process.

Vananalagi adds the NLC is acting fairly and reasonably to stop the installation in order to conduct an inquiry to solve the dispute.