Border Villagers Unite

by Theresa Ralogaivau

Fiji Times - Wednesday, June 09, 2010

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Villagers of Batiri with during their provincial allegiance meet

ONLY one conch shell will now sound in Batiri Village on the border of Cakaudrove and Macuata outside Seaqaqa following a resolution to its provincial allegiance crisis.

The village until Monday had two of almost everything from village headmen, development plans, village meetings and two conch shells as one side swore allegiance to Macuata province while the other to Cakaudrove.

For the first time since 1929 the whole village gathered in the meeting hall to be informed by the Roko Tui Cakaudrove Ro Aca Mataitini they belonged to Cakaudrove province.

Ro Aca warned villagers to unite and to gracefully accept they were part of Cakaudrove.

"There was confusion because from the period up to 1929 they were part of Seaqaqa, which falls within Macuata province," he said.

"But when provincial divisions were made they became part of Cakaudrove yet one side of the village, especially those that belong to the Yavusa Batiri continued to pay allegiance to Macuata.

"It caused divisions in the village, caused verbal confrontations and almost ended in physical assaults with those from the Yavusa Seaqaqa.

"It can't be this way because the Government will only recognise one village headman and if the differences continue then development will bypass Batiri."

Tears flowed freely as the villagers were told to unite.

Headman Peni Tagiteci said decision had saved the village from future trouble.

"It was two villages within one, around 10 homes counted themselves as part of Macuata while around 80 homes belonged to Cakaudrove.

"A house divided cannot stand so we are glad the provincial allegiance issue has been clarified," he said.

Get Licence, says Tui Macuata

Fiji Sun News - 6 June 2010

Macuata villagers, who wish to engage in fishing and harvesting of marine products for commercial gain, are advised to get a fishing licence.This was the advice of Tui Macuata, Ratu Aisea Katonivere, during the Macuata Provincial Council meeting in Seaqaqa. Ratu Aisea said, he was aware of concerns raised by fishing grounds owners in his province over protected fishing grounds or i qoliqoli. “There will be a submission endorsed by the Macuata Provincial Council and it will be sent to the Commissioner Northern to address the issue,” said Ratu Aisea. He said the issue was discussed because of fishing rights under the regulations of the Fiji Islands Maritime Safety Administration. He said the administration would conduct awareness programmes next month in Macuata to train, register and certify boat owners and operators. “FIMSA has decided to have a four-day awareness programme next month at Naduri and Udu.” “Before this awareness programme, boat owners need to have all boat requirements-like life jackets, and fire extinguishers.”He said boat owners had to spend a lot of money to travel to Suva to buy equipment required by the administration.

NLTB Crackdown on Arrears

Fiji Times - Sunday, June 06, 2010

THE Native Land Trust Board has warned tenants in arrears that it will get court orders to evict them and dismantle their houses if they fail to pay up.

NLTB general manager, Alipate Qetaki said in a public notice issued yesterday that in the past 15 months the board had worked hard to reduce rent arrears and served notices, filed writs of summons in court and published names of tenants in the newspapers.

Mr Qetaki had earlier said that rent owed in January was around $25million.

He said the number of tenants who had rental arrears reduced from 17,779 to 15,757.

However, he said some people had not taken any notice of the efforts and had not responded to it.

Mr Qetaki said it was a clear indication of such tenants' complete disregard of their legal obligations to the NLTB, the landowners and the law-abiding relationship between a landlord and a tenant.

He said the attitude shown by some tenants had prompted the NLTB to take such drastic action.

Mr Qetaki said if tenants continued to disregard the notice to pay their arrears the board would get court orders to disconnect utilities such as water and electricity, get court orders for vacant possession that would result in tenants losing their properties. He said the board would continue to load names of tenants in arrears in the Data Bureau to prevent them from obtaining credit or loans from credit institutions.

He said the board would also get court orders to seize personal assets and properties of defaulting tenants.

Last month NLTB had served 1,166 arrear notices and 569 cases had already been filed writ of summons in court and another 292 cases expected to follow soon.

Mr Qetaki had confirmed that NLTB had filed 20 cases for bankruptcy in court and tenants were to expect more of these actions if they fail to settle rent arrears.

Macuata to kKep their Culture

by Theresa Ralogaivau

Fiji Times - Sunday, June 06, 2010

TO avoid a situation where they become strangers in their own land, Macuata chiefs have resolved to take cultural preservation to a new level.

Following the footsteps taken by the people of Bua, Macuata is also proposing to stage a festival to showcase different cultural dances and songs, and other traditional habits unique to its 12 districts.

Roko Tui Macuata Sitiveni Lalibuli said cultural erosion had reached a state in the province with many habits fast dying out due to non use.

A provincial office delegation led by Mr Lalibuli attended the Bula Re Festival of arts and culture in Bua

"The Fijian race is the most unique in the world because when a baby is born he already belong to a certain mataqali, vanua, province and will inherit certain amount of land and so forth," he said.

"Additionally the habits and cultural practices clearly set the indigenous race apart. "But the distinction is becoming blurry as most indigenous live the modern way and have forgotten their traditions and cultural practices and very soon will become strangers in their own land."

Sevu or offering of the first crop to chiefs and traditional rulers is also being enforced in the districts.

Mr Lalibuli said these were habits that were once religiously practised but were hardly observed these days.

Draft village by-laws addresses clothing and hairstyle

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation -  June 03, 2010

The first draft of the proposed village by-laws is proposing that women must not wear pants or tie their hair in villages.

This was confirmed to FBC News by Kisoko Cagituevei of the Prime Ministers Office.

Cagituevei who is currently discussing the first draft with villagers in Vanua levu says the proposal was welcomed by people in the district of Wainunu, Bua.

Other proposals include not shouldering your towel or wearing a hat while in the village vicinity. The work of the village headman, the role of a chief, and how to address criminal activities is also discussed in the draft.

Cagituevei says the by law is appropriate for our people living in villages.

One of the reasons for the proposed by-laws is that certain ‘unwanted’ activities and behaviour only found in urban areas have invaded rural villages.

Nanumi Au eke-Inoke Tabua

Ba province seals joint venture deal

by Margaret Wise

Fiji Times - Monday, May 31, 2010

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Gentlemen's agreement ... Ba Provincial Council representative Ratu Meli Saukuru, left, and Vice-Governor Zhejiang Provincial People's Government of China Jin Deshui at the signing ceremony

THE province of Ba has become the first district to explore the business of twinning with an overseas partner, choosing to undertake joint venture projects in Fiji with a province in China.

Last week Ba Provincial Holdings, the business arm of the council, signed a memorandum of understanding with Zhejiang Province from the People's Republic of China for partnership in local projects and initiatives. The signing took place last Friday at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau. The Ba Province was represented by Isimeli Bose, chairman of the Ba Provincial Council and Zhejiang Province was represented by Jin Deshui, Vice Governor Zhejiang Provincial People's Government.

"After our initial discussion, we agreed that the best businesses for us to go into together were shipping, minerals, bio-fuel, hardware and broadcasting," said Mr Bose who confirmed that the signing of the MOU was only the first stage of talks with the Chinese province.

He said the next step in their proposed joint venture was a feasibility study to further determine the viability of businesses.

"They will send a team to work with us on a feasibility study and depending on the outcome, we will begin work on the proposed areas," Mr Bose said.

The Chinese delegation included senior government officials and members of State-owned and private businesses.

Ba leader backs new village laws

Margaret Wise
Fiji Times - Monday, May 31, 2010

BA Provincial Council chairman Ratu Meli Saukuru believes the proposed new village bylaws are good and should have been introduced much earlier.

He said this despite not having sighted a copy of the document himself.

"I have not seen it yet but I believe it is a good thing and should have been brought in earlier because a lot of villages do not have proper rules and regulations," Ratu Meli said.

"We need to have some kind of reference point to solve disputes and maintain order in our villages."

Fiji's biggest provincial council is awaiting the arrival of the bylaws so that consultation can begin with the 107 turaga-ni-koro in the province.

"First, the village heads have to take the document back to their respective villages and go over it with their people before bringing it back to us.

"We will then compile all the feedback and present a report to the Fijian Affairs Board."

Ratu Meli said he also supported the introduction of the proposed village by-laws because it gave headmen a stronger power base.

"In the past, if the turaga-ni-koro couldn't resolve a dispute or issue then unless the police were informed, nothing happened," he said.

"With these new bylaws, any conflict, dispute or issue that can't be resolved at village level will be forwarded to the court system and I think this gives the bylaws more teeth."