Turaga Na Vunivalu, Na Tui Kaba, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, yesterday reminded Fiji’s traditional leaders that their role is to serve and not to be served.

Speaking as the chief guest at the Vakaturaga Conference in Suva, Ratu Epenisa urged traditional leaders to take care of their people.

He said the traditional leaders must stay strong as they continued to lead in their various roles.

Ratu Epenisa said traditional leaders were nothing without their people.

“As chiefs, our roles and responsibilities are vast,” he said.

“It’s not an easy undertaking. During your installations as chiefs, you swore an oath before God and your people.

“This is not an easy undertaking. I urge you to call on God for His directions, love, and compassion for the duties that you did not apply for, but were anointed into. Your reflections will be seen through your people. If they are prospering, you are prospering. If they are not, you are not.”

Ratu Epenisa said it was important for the traditional leaders to be guardians of their people, land, and i qoliqoli.

“We should look after our resources for the betterment of our future generations.”

Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu said every iTaukei was looking forward to the outcome of the two-day deliberation, as it represented a new beacon of hope for a new chapter for the iTaukei people.

The two-day Vakaturaga Conference will allow the traditional leaders from the 14 provinces to deliberate on the outcomes of the final report that was presented by the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) Review Committee.

The review committee had presented their report to Mr Vasu on Tuesday.

In May, the review committee was tasked with coming back with a report that would outline the functions and responsibilities of a new Great Council of Chiefs – one that works for the greater good of indigenous Fijians, operates in a modern society, and serves its core function as an advisor to Government.

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