Province supports chieftaincy system

THE Central Province Government is resolved to support the functions of the chieftaincy system in the Mekeo constituent, in Kairuku.The government under the current leadership of Governor Ms Rufina Peter and Kairuku MP Peter Isoaimo are determined to consolidate a workable working relationship with the council of chiefs from Mekeo to address the burning issues of law and order related issues affecting the communities.A council of chiefs meeting was held over the weekend at Veifa’a village to address the issue.Kairuku MP Peter Isoaimo who was present at the meeting said this was an ongoing issue which he tried his best to address in his previous term. He said he is pleased now that a governor is eager to partner with him and also the NCD/Central police command to assist in this area. He said, as an initiated chief, he had initiated this meeting to find an applicable solution to the issue. ‘’I am ready as your member to support the Council of Chiefs in the way that we strengthen the association’s structure and fully fund its functions and tackle the law-and-order issues,’’ he said.He said the SME policy is available and urged the youths to form groups and venture into SME activities and abstain from involving themselves in petty crimes and causing nuisance to the communities.Isoaimo said in his past parliamentary terms, he was dealing with a vast electorate with huge number of wards in both electorates of Kairuku and Hiri. ‘’With 51 wards now to look after, we can achieve many things and one for the most is putting our youths in order,’’ he said.The governor who was not present however was represented by his first secretary, Jack Totona.Totona said that the governor is ready to work with the chiefs of Mekeo to achieve many of their aspirations. He said the governor comes from a chieftaincy society in Goilala and knows the values of chiefs in a society, thus indicated that the governor will provide her support in boosting the performance of the chiefs in their capacity to managing and addressing issues.