Shefa launches 17th Area Council

“Your Government at Mele is now set up and I ask you all to arise and congratulate the formation of your Area Council which is now the 17th Area Council of Shefa Province”.

President of Shefa Provincial Council President Edward George has launched the Area Council last Friday saying the door to development in Shefa Province is the Area Council. “Without your Area Council, no development can come down to your villages of Mele Maat to Mele and to Weisisi”, he warns.

The President says the two Councillors of Mele Maat (Councillor Bob Homu) and Councillor Paape Vatoko of Mele) and Area Council Secretary Joseph all have a duty to promote constant communication between the Area Council and Shefa Provincial Headquarters. “You are all paid not to sleep but to work to promote development in our Province”, he says.

“Get organised” is the message to the newly launched Mele Area Council to start today to take part in the development of the Shefa Provincial Government Council, following its formation in the Farea Pasifika at the entrance to Mele Village.

Secretary General Michel Kalworai says the Province is made up of 19 Area Councils and with the setting up of latest Area Council, there are only two left in Erakor Area Village and Eratap Village. “The setting up of an Area Council is strictly administrative and chiefs of those areas should not be concerned as they won’t not interfere with any internal issues that you may have”, he says.

The Department of Local Authorities says “unity” among all stakeholders is the key to the successful operation of an Area Council.

Former Secretary General for Tafea Province Ketty Napuat says getting organised at Area Council level by chiefs, churches, women and youths seem to be the biggest challenge in any Province.

While Tafea Province and its Area Councils still have mountains to climb, she says at least her ‘yeni’ or tribal chiefs now know that they have full control of their custom governance system and support any proposals for development projects in their Area Councils.

Chief Maasai of Mele Village welcomes the formation of the Area Council on behalf of himself and of his colleague (Chief Semion Poilapa) who he says “cannot attend due urgent commitments” while his representatives are present.

He describes the launching of the Area Council as a milestone saying it is time to work together based on respect and unity to develop their communities.