Villages are emptying because they know they are not being looked after well – GCC Chair

The Great Council of Chiefs believes that one reason the villages are emptying out is that people in the villages understand that their leaders do not take care of them well.

GCC Chair Ratu Viliame Seruvakula says he thinks a lot of the drugs have infiltrated a lot of parts of the society, and the villages are not excluded from this.

He says the effects of drugs in villages are not that bad, but their major concern is those iTaukei living in settlements as raised by the chiefs.

Ratu Viliame says the chiefs suggested nominating people from a certain village living in the urban areas as representatives for those living in the urban areas.

He says this representative will be the link for those in the cities and towns to those in the village when they hold their Village meetings or district meetings.

He urges the leaders to have regular meetings with their people, and if they don't look after their people, then they will look after themselves such as moving away from the village and settling in urban areas or overseas jobs.