The people of Lau are being encouraged to fill their vacant chiefly titles after the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama highlighted during their Provincial Council Meeting today, that out of the 13 chiefly titles in Lau, only 4 have been filled.
He reminded those present that when the vanua is stable, development will not be an issue.
Bainimarama says those who have not been confirmed by the iTaukei Lands Commission, have little or no mandate to speak for their vanua.
He adds the government will not allow the leadership void in the vanua to be exploited by any group, including NGOs, CSOs and even Government agencies.
He is encouraging the district representatives to do it for the Lau people, for the vanua and for Fiji.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that from 2014 until last year, the Government has invested more than $31 million into the Lau Province.
He says they spent $8,832,236 on rural roads in Vanua Balavu, Lakeba and Moala.
He adds they spent $7,186,751 on education, through free education grants, and engine and boat assistance to children to reach their classrooms.
Bainimarama says $3,338,781 was spent on solar home systems while the Ministry of Fisheries spent $2,781,041 on establishing the Moala and Cicia Fisheries Station and coastal development projects.
The Prime Minister says the Forestry Ministry spent $2,651,595 on timber treatment chemical and equipment, portable sawmills and a wheel loader.
He says the Ministry of Agriculture spent $1,401,968 on rural outer island programmes, agriculture extension services, and coconut farming programme.
He adds the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management spent $1,153,811 on self-help programmes.
Bainimarama says the Ministry of Youth and Sports spent $1,148,909 on youth and sports grant and youth training.
