A long-simmering internal rift within the traditional leadership structure of the Matawai community has been formally resolved, following an intensive, hours-long mediation session held on Sunday. The conflict, which pitted Granman Lesly Valentijn, the community’s paramount leader, against a group of junior traditional leaders including several kapiteins (village captains) and basja’s, ended with the critical faction issuing a formal apology to Valentijn at his official residence.
The mediation gathering, known locally as a krutu, drew participation from traditional leaders representing villages across both the upper and lower regions of Matawai territory. According to official statements from the Matawai traditional governance body, the public comments several of the dissident leaders made earlier targeting Granman Valentijn went beyond constructive criticism. The remarks were widely deemed inappropriate and disrespectful to the community’s highest traditional authority, creating growing tension across the governance structure.
To address the rift, the involved kapiteins and basja’s traveled to Valentijn’s residence to open direct dialogue and clear the air. After multiple hours of deliberation and discussion, Granman Valentijn formally accepted their apologies, bringing the public dispute to a close. The leadership body confirmed that all outstanding tensions related to the conflict have been settled.
In remarks following the resolution, Valentijn emphasized that such public division must not be allowed to happen again. He noted that disrespectful public speech targeting traditional leadership does not only damage working relationships between governance members, but also sends a misleading and destabilizing message to the broader Matawai community.
Despite the recent tensions, Valentijn reaffirmed his commitment to collaborative work with all traditional leaders across the territory. He called on kapiteins, basja’s and all community members to prevent small disagreements from escalating into permanent division within the Matawai people.
“Only through unity, mutual respect and collective cooperation can our Matawai community move forward and advance the sustainable development of our land,” Valentijn stressed during the closing of the krutu. He added that meaningful progress for Matawai territory can only be achieved when traditional leadership and all community subgroups work in lockstep toward shared goals.
The Sunday mediation session was also attended by two outside observers and facilitators: Ruth Beely, the local district commissioner, and Raoul Abisoina, who serves as a senior advisor to Granman Valentijn.