Tui Sabeto Puts Foot Down for Villagers Wellbeing

In a bold move aimed at foster­ing stronger family bonds and combating social challenges, the Tui Sabeto, Ratu Viliame Mataitoga, has introduced new regulations to address pressing is­sues facing his community.

As part of his ongoing efforts to empower the people of Sabeto, Ratu Viliame has mandated that kava consumption in the village be prohibited from midnight on Satur­days until 6pm on Sundays, encour­aging residents to prioritize family time and attend church services.

He explained that the move was part of a broader initiative to im­prove community cohesion and tackle the rising drug crisis.

He said the village laws has been designed to create a more produc­tive and healthier environment for families.

"This decision is about ensur­ing that we spend quality time with our families and focus on the things that truly matter," said Ratu Viliame.

"With the increasing pressures of modern life, it's crucial that we come together as a community to support each other and reconnect with our cultural and spiritual roots."

In addition to the kava curfew, the Tui Sabeto has also imposed a movement restriction on vehicles entering the village between 10pm and 5am.

This measure is intended to curb the illegal sale and use of drugs, which often occur late at night.

By controlling access during these hours, Ratu Viliame hopes to create a safer environment and re­duce the prevalence of drug-relat­ed activities that have plagued the community.

Ratu Viliame's leadership has focused on addressing a range of issues, from food security and pov­erty alleviation to the safety of women and children.

"In these challenging times, it's essential that we rely on our own resources. By planting our own food, we can ensure access to nutri­tious meals, even with the rising cost of living," he said.

While committed to these commu­nity-driven solutions, Ratu Viliame also recognizes the importance of legal frameworks to enforce such initiatives.

He strongly supports the estab­lishment of village by-laws to give local leaders more authority in managing community affairs and addressing issues like drug abuse and social disorder.

"I acknowledge that one of the major limitations we face in tack­ling these issues is the lack of for­mal legal authority; which is why I strongly support the enactment of village by-laws.

"I am pleased that this topic was discussed during the recent GCC meeting and hope to see further progress in this regard."

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