Unity Fiji Party leader and former Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor Savenaca Narube says he is sad to note that we have not realized the economic vision in Fiji and have not turned land ownership into prosperity.
While speaking during a symposium on Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna at the University of Fiji, Narube says resource ownership in Fiji is a political football at times.
He says Ratu Sukuna through the land tenure system that he established and the trust he had to protect the ownership of the land, we have to ask if it has given us the prosperity that he envisaged at that time.
He says we have social problems that is a result of economic problems.
Narube says we are led by chiefs in the community and chiefs are expected to lead not only in political issues but more so in economical issues.
He asks do they have the capacity to do that and adds they need to be realistic in answering that question.
Narube says his view is that the role of chiefs should be in the leadership that leads to the economic prosperity of their people.
He says chiefs should lead the change in mindsets and if that does not happen then he is afraid that the vision of Ratu Sukuna will be difficult to achieve.
Narube adds they should champion change to stay relevant for the modern needs of the people now.
