The unhappiness caused by the dispute about the chiefly title was resolved in the traditional Fiji way of offering an apology. Adi Salanieta will be formally installed in October this year. From the Fiji Times today:
Chiefly subjects seek pardon
Thursday, March 13, 2008
THE people of Labasa yesterday shed communal tears when they sought the forgiveness of their high chief, Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma, for hurting her through words and acts over past months. At the bose vanua in Naseakula Village, in the North, the turaga ni mataqali Tuatua, Nemani Tomasi could not hold back his tears as he led the people to the forgiveness ceremony.
Speaking in Fijian, he asked Adi Salanieta to forgive them for the hurt her people had caused. Mr Tomasi offered a tabua (whale's tooth) and a feast as a token of atonement and requested.
He also promised the day would be the beginning of a new relationship between the people and their chief.
Adi Salanieta was formally recognised by the Native Lands Commission two weeks ago.
Although the Drauna family, the faction that challenged the chiefly title did not attend the ceremony, Mr Tomasi said the ceremony was being done for the vanua of Labasa.
Adi Salanieta accepted the apology and encouraged the vanua to work together and acknowledge God in everything they did.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Adi Salanieta said she was humbled by the ceremony.
She said that the ceremony meant unity and brought about oneness to the vanua. Adi Salanieta encouraged her people to work together as a family and in unity. Silence prevailed as people shook her hand and made peace with each another.
District reps and chiefs of the vanua were glad that such a reconciliation ceremony amongst the vanua was held, saying this would help in achieving goals set for the district of Labasa. The meeting was its first ever since the ruling of the Native Lands Tribunal Appeals last month. It ruled Adi Salanieta as rightful holder of the chiefly title of Tui Labasa.
A meeting of the tikina held at Naseakula Village decided that Adi Salanieta would be installed on October 31.
The meeting agreed it needed to fulfil its traditional obligation as Adi Salanieta's name had been gazetted as the Tui Labasa, following the tribunal's ruling. Labasa district rep Paula Maleau said the vanua would approach the kingship of Caumatalevu at Naduri Village and inform them about the decision.
"It is part of Fijian protocol because by right, the Tui Macuata always serves the grog of bowl to the Tui Labasa and that is why we have to approach him and ask him to perform this highly respected duty in installing our chief."
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and also the following is interesting as Tui Macuata thinks differently.
Tui Labasa doesn’t support Charter
Thursday, March 13, 2008
The Tui Labasa Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma says she does not support the proposed People’s Charter. Adi Salanieta’s stand is contrary to that of Macuata’s paramount chief Ratu Aisea Katonivere who says the province fully supports the proposal. The Labasa district chief says members of her district do not support the charter and as their chief she stands by their decision.
“Disciples coming around bringing pamphlets and all that but I stand by my tikina. If they don’t work in with the people that are bringing in the proposal, I don’t think I’ll be able to stand on my feet. I have to stand by them”.
Adi Salanieta’s statement follows on the heels of a comment by a young chief from the district Ratu Jone Matove who says the nation must not be blackmailed by the Charter. The tikina meeting yesterday did not discuss the proposed charter.
This morning an NCCBF media official said the charter is the exit strategy for the Interim Government.
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4 comments:
Peceli;I am of the opinion That Tui Labasa is not alone with regard to the charter.
Whilst mindful of my traditional obligation to the Turaga Tui Macuata;i am also being pulled to the opposite direction by my rights as stipulated in the constitution.Am at the extreme point of elasticity and either i crumble and be silent or risk a confrontation with the boss and do a matanigasau not nacassarilly to correct a wrong but to keep the tradition at par with history.
Th question that needs to be asked, and you might want this job;is what are the basis for his support?
Bula si'a.
Thank you for your participating in this blog by commenting. Are you in Fiji or in USA or somewhere else? Nice to hear from you. Everyone has the right to his or her opinion and sometimes we have to exercise that right even though it means a disagreement. This is a political matter not a vanua obligation so don't worry.
Peceli
Bula Re viro Talatala;
Im curious to know the origin of DiTui's name.
Is the Tuilomaloma the Lomaloma of Vanuabalavu or of Savusavu?
F.y.i. am located in the US
Hello there,
My turn to respond as Peceli is busy out in the garden - what's left of it with the drought.
He said he didn't know the name connection but he said that when they were all children in Naseakula they had nicknames for different people - e.g. Buddy - for Stan Whippy/Ritova. Also some of the people in Naseakula went by English names and emphasised the part-European connection as that apparently had status in those days.
Interesting to see that the new Labasa chief is speaking out now about allowing more leases on the unused land. Why don't they have Fijian farms in a big way and make much more money than getting 'free' lease money twice a year?
w.
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