Chief Concerned Over Youth Migration, Calls for Monitoring System

The paramount chief of Rewa, Na Gone Marama Bale Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa, is concerned about the increasing migration of young men and women for work abroad.

She has raised questions about whether there is a record or database system in place to monitor the number of youths leaving for overseas opportunities and those who stay in the villages.

She was speaking at the Rewa Provincial Council meeting in Lami yesterday,

"Many young men and women from the province of Rewa have gone overseas to work under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Programme," she said.

“Is there a database that can inform us how many of our young men and women have gone overseas, not only from Rewa Province but also from the other 13 provinces? When we visit villages, we notice that many of our young men and women have left,” Ro Teimumu said.

She is concerned because she wonders who will fulfill the village duties in their absence.

“The villages depend on young men and women for essential village tasks and responsibilities. If only the elderly remain at home, these duties would go unfulfilled. Additionally, a database could furnish us with the age demographics of those who have migrated abroad for work.”

Responding to Ro Teimumu, council chair Ro Macanawai Mataitini said that a report was currently being compiled by a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

“The Ministry of iTaukei Affairs convened a meeting for the chairpersons of the 14 provincial councils, where we were informed that an NGO is preparing a report not only on the numbers of those who have gone to work under the PALM scheme but also on its advantages and disadvantages,” Ro Macanawai said.

“I believe they will distribute this report to all provinces when the time is right.”

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