Over seventy percent of the chiefly titles in the province of Lau are still vacant.
Lau Provincial Council meeting Chairman Ilisoni Taoba says the high number of vacant chiefly titles is of concern and it has left a major dent in chiefly leadership of the various islands in the Lau Group.
“Since we are from the islands, those who are supposed to be in that position are in Viti Levu but the younger brothers are in the island and they are the ones running the vanua, they are finding difficulties because the elders are in Suva or in other parts of Viti Levu or overseas.”
Taoba says this has sometimes hindered development opportunities for the villagers and the onus is on them to discuss and solve any chiefly title disputes
Speaking at the Lau Provincial Council meeting, Taoba said if the chiefly titles are occupied then there will be no conflict of decision making in the various districts of the Lau Group.
