Lomaviti Council Meeting opening changed to tomorrow

The Lomaiviti Provincial Council meeting will be opened tomorrow, instead of today.

Chairman of the meeting Joji Qaranivalu said this change was made by the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday.

Today, he said Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama would open the new hall and evacuation centre. The opening, he said, would be held after the welcome ceremony that would start with the vakasobu (presentation of a whale’s tooth) from the Kacau.

When he arrives at the village he is expected to rest from his journey

and then attend the welcome ceremony at 10am.

Sawaieke chief Turaga Na Raitena Ratu Kinijoj Vererusa said on land the following presentations would take place - vakamamacaca, sevusevu, yaqona vakaturaga, wase ni yaqona vakaturaga and vakatale.

A special presentation, he said, would be made to traditionally ask the Prime Minister to open the new hall and evacuation centre. After the opening, he said Mr Bainimarama would tour the booths and be entertained with a meke from the people of Nawaikama. Mr Qaranivalu said after lunch Mr Bainimarama would tour the Sports Complex at Sawaieke, and the two nursing stations at Nawaikama and Vadravadra. These two nursing stations have solar projects funded by the Prime Minister’s Office. According to Commissioner Eastern Luke Moroivalu, this would be his engagement on Day 1 of his Lomaiviti tour. Tomorrow, the PM will open the Lomaiviti Provincial Council meeting.

Mr Moroivalu said this would be followed by the talanoa session.

Yesterday, the delegates met with the Government delegates and issues were raised and resolved. He said only a few issues would be raised during the talanoa session with the Prime Minister. Mr Moroivalua said delegates were also briefed on the talanoa session.

Yesterday, there were four meetings – youth, women, chiefs and district representatives – with Government representatives. Mr Qaranivalu said the meetings with Government representatives had solved issues and some would be taken up to the PM.

He said he was with the chiefs and was glad to hear from the Native Lands Commission chair, Ratu Vananalagi Vesikula, that there was no chiefly dispute in the province. He said the concern from the NLC was the vacant titles from the itokatoka, mataqali and needed to be filled.

The chiefs, he said, had unanimously agreed that this year’s Lomaiviti Carnival be postponed and be replaced by a district carnival. The money raised will be used for developments in the district. yavusa that The president of the Sawaieke Youths, Ratu Vilame Kamikamica, said for this meeting, the youths had harvested two yaqona plants to be dried and used during the meeting. He said they were happy that their contribution had been recognised by the elders.