Speaking after the meeting at the Civic Centre in Suva, Kaunisela says in the past there were mainly two important levies that people contributed to — one for the church and the other for the development of the Vanua.
He says over the years, villages have slowly moved away from this responsibility, and this is affecting development within the province.
Kaunisela says the provincial council believes reviving the levy system can help support development projects and assist young people across Lomaiviti.
He says the proposed levy contribution is around $10 per person, and the funds collected would go towards youth programs and important village developments.
Kaunisela stresses that these contributions are not for outsiders, but for the direct benefit of the people within the province themselves.
He also highlighted growing concerns around drug-related issues affecting youths in villages across Lomaiviti.
Kaunisela says many villages have now introduced village by-laws to deal with drug use, where individuals found using drugs may be removed from the village for a period of time to reflect on their actions before returning.
He says for many iTaukei communities, recognising weaknesses and learning from them is what brings real change and progress.
