Ra Bosevanua chairman Osea Kasami is calling for the reinstatement of a village bylaw monitoring body, in light of the lack of discipline among young men in villages and communities.

This was part of his consultation submission on the review of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) at the Dadamu Hall in Nanukuloa, Ra.

Mr Kasami was also a member of the previous GCC.

“We all know these problems are caused because of the attitude of youth in our communities.

They are disrespectful and their duties are neglected, when requested to take up this duty as headman, they decline responsibility,” he said.

“If this body is reinstated, our youths must be disciplined. We have seen its benefits in villages. They behaved well and if they weren’t then they were summoned.

“There is a lot of arrogance and disrespect among young men nowadays.”

He also requested that preparation of reports submitted to the GCC by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs be improved and reflect issues faced by the vanua.

“The information presented in the report to the GCC is not prepared well, they tell us what they implement. They discuss it and then it’s left at that,” he said.

“We would receive an allowance such as $300 a day , and that’s what they do to sweeten it for us.

When we return, we go back with no clear idea of what we discussed.

“Another issue we wish to be gradually address is if the voices of chiefs can be heard and for them to have respective meetings in their provinces.

“Then, they can take concerns up to the GCC. Only then can the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs know about issues faced in our provinces.”

He said this would see issues such as development requests and financial sources addressed

In response, GCC review team leader Doctor Jone Baledrokadroka said participants of the GCC review consultation in Serua also raised the same issue regarding the detachment of the Bosevanua from the GCC when they were supposed to be working in collaboration.

“It seemed like the Ministry of iTaukei Affirars was being secretive and regarding your other issue where the village bylaws are being broken, young men are also consuming excessive alcohol, but the GCC is supposed to do something about this,” he said,

“Another solution is for village bylaws to be reinstated and officials to be elected to ensure they are followed, like it was before.”

Story by: salote.qalubau@fijisun.com.fj