People will respect the role of chiefs if they return to their respective villages and be installed as traditional leaders say Kisoko Cagituivei of the Prime Minister’s Office.

This is their only hope for all itaukei’s to protect and strengthen the chiefly system.

Cagituivei says with a multiracial country such as ours, itaukei’s cannot expect to be treated differently from other racial denominations.

However he says the government has put more emphasis on land and its trustees, ensuring that it is protected.

He says there are a number of chiefly titles vacant and many chiefs that are supposed to be installed are either working or living in urban areas or are away overseas.

Government is calling on chiefs in urban areas to return to their villages so they could be installed and take a lead role in the development works in villages.