Tui Cakau Apology

Tui Cakau accepts apology from senior subjects

SERAFINA SILAITOGA

www.fijitimes.com - Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, left, holds court at the Cakaudrove Provincial Council meeting.

TEARS and solemn moments marked the opening of the Cakaudrove chiefs' meeting yesterday as chairman and former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka asked their paramount chief Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu for forgiveness.

With tears flowing down his face, Mr Rabuka in a solemn and respectful tone asked Ratu Naiqama to forgive him and Roko Tui Cakaudrove Ravuso Wainiqolo for organising the provincial council meeting at Yaroi Village last year, which Ratu Naiqama did not want.

In presenting their soro, Mr Rabuka admitted that it was wrong of him and Mr Wainoqolo to organise the meeting and entertain the Great Council of Chiefs committee at Yaroi.

He said even after organising the events, he used to hear and read messages from Ratu Naiqama in the media over his disappointment.

This, Mr Rabuka said, did not scare him but made him determined and humbled to come forward and present a matanigasau for his wrong.

He told Ratu Naiqama that word from Valelevu which he heard in the media only spoke of how powerful and respected the Tui Cakau's position was and for any Cakaudrove person to hear such words, it meant that he was cared for by their high chief.

Mr Rabuka said this was what brought him forward yesterday to present his matanigasau.

In forgiving them, Ratu Naiqama told them they hurt him when they organised a meeting last year and said that such actions were not chiefly and something Cakaudrove was not known for.

Formalise law

SERAFINA SILAITOGA

www.fijitimes.com - Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, yesterday reminded the chiefs of Cakaudrove of the importance of gazetting their village laws to prevent disputes.

His comment came in response to a question from Tui Kama Ratu Seru Taqali, who queried the legality of village laws.

Ratu Seru said they had set a law in the village of Buca to discipline those who made unnecessary noises.

He told the meeting there were two categories of disciplinary measures for noise created by drunkards and and people behaving in a drunk and disorderly manner in the village.

Ratu Seru said people living in the village but not registered in the Vola ni Kawa Bula were warned thrice if caught making noise.

If they failed to adhere to the warnings, they would be told to move out of the village permanently, he said, adding they would not be allowed to return at any time.

For people registered in the VKB, Ratu Seru said if they failed to obey the three warnings, they would be told to move out of the province for five years.

Ratu Seru said this had been the practice in the village in past years but he wanted advice from the chiefs on the procedures to legalise the village law.

Former chairman Sitiveni Rabuka told the chiefs it was important for them to legalise village laws.

He said it was important because if the law was not accepted by the villager accused, he or she could sue village elders particularly when they had the right to live in their village of origin.

Ratu Naiqama urged the chiefs to form a draft of village laws in their respective districts and take it up to provincial level meetings so it could be submitted to higher authorities to enable legalisation of the village laws. Ratu Naiqama urged the chiefs to bury the past.