Who owns Kadavu House?

Fiji Village News - 10 May 2010

The stakeholders are now trying to determine whether Kadavu House which was built through a FNPF loan is owned by the Kadavu Provincial Council.

The three entities that are involved in this issue are the Provincial Council, Kadavu Development Company and Kadavu Holdings Limited. 

Kadavu House has started fetching rent for the eight levels that are fully occupied.

The government ended the Memorandum of Agreement to occupy the house in 2007 after issues arose about the high level of rent agreed to by the Qarase government.

Questions were also raised at the time about the ownership of Kadavu House, how the people involved got the loan and whether it was truly an effective Affirmative Action programme and would benefit the ordinary people of Kadavu.

The Kadavu Provincial Council meets this Wednesday and Thursday while the Kadavu Development Company meets on Friday. 

Former Chairman of the Kadavu Provincial Council and a former director of Kadavu Development Company, Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo confirmed that the provincial council set up the company as a business arm and the company then set up Kadavu Holdings Limited which was responsible for building Kadavu House.

Nawalowalo agrees that the ownership of the house and the current directors of the company need to be dealt with.

Fijivillage News pointed out the government=s concerns in 2007 when it brought up the issue that a number of individuals who were not part of the provincial council were sitting as directors of the company.

Nawalowalo agrees that the government was seriously concerned about this issue as the FNPF loan was granted based on the connection to the provincial council.

Province adopts land care idea

Fiji Sun - 06 May 2010

Mali Island in Macuata is now proud to call itself the first island to pioneer the land care committee concept, facilitated by the World Wildlife Fund. Restoring the natural landscape on Mali Island, through community land care is a project by WWF, aimed to restore the island’s landscape. The initiative by Mali islanders is an added notch to the conservation management practices of the province’s Qoliqoli Cokovata roles. Sixteen young men and women were selected to champion safe agricultural practices in their village that was sustainable, and in harmony with its surrounding waters. WWF sustainable land use officer, Opeti Vateitei, said the land care committee would act as community watchdogs and provide advice to their fellow villagers on how best to address land use issues. WWF, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, provided the technical and agricultural know how to the members as a part of the committee’s induction process. Mr Vateitei said community land use workshops were conducted in each of the four villages in the Mali district, to raise awareness of better land use practices and management.  They also developed village delineated land use action plans, including those of islands and mainlands (district wide). Community representatives were also trained on water management, water harvesting, water quality testing and improving water storage facilities on the island.  As a result of this project, islands that has a high percentage of native flora will be able to improve its land quality and soil condition for long-term sustainable agriculture. A similar committee concept will also be adopted by the Dreketi and Sawaieke sites on Vanua Levu. Mr Vateitei said the community representatives were also told that, 70 per cent of the health of their marine life depended on their activities on land, which emphasises the need for a carefully planned agricultural activity.

Money the cause of chiefly title disputes

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, May 05, 2010

Who should receive money from land leases and other entitlements is the main cause of chiefly disputes in the country, says an official of the Prime Minister’s office.

Kisoko Cagituevei told FBC News that differences over who should hold chiefly titles should not happen, but money was causing most of the disputes to drag on.

Cagituevei says it must be clear that a chief’s responsibility is to his or her people and not to money.

He says officials from the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs are visiting districts and villages that are having chiefly title disputes to help solve the issue.

Namosi - They have 'it all'

by Elenoa Baselala

Fiji Times - Wednesday, May 05, 2010

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Market vendor Milika Baleiwai at the Suva market yesterday. Baleiwai is one who saves through microfinance banking. Picture: IVAMERE RASABASABA

THE people of Namosi have everything going for them compared to those from other rural areas. They have access to a bank, they are earning good money but they do not know how to make their money grow.

Maikeli Kausoqo, a training officer with the Fiji Council of Social Services Microfinance Unit said one of their biggest challenges was financial literacy.

"They spend a lot of money and saving is not a priority. And it is hard to drive home the idea of saving because these are people who really do not have to worry about water or electricity bills or even food.

"Some of them earn as much as $15,000 from their farms in a year but don't have any savings. What we learnt was that these people will come to town, sell their produce and spend whatever money they have.

"These people have everything those in urban areas have such as furniture, Sky Pacific and more," Mr Kausoqo said.

The unit has been helping the villages in understanding financial literacy and convincing them to save.

"We are targeting the youths more and reminding them that they need to fend for themselves," he added.

The FCOSS MFU has 11 financial literacy workshops pending and has invited youth groups and social groups to contact them if they wish to have one in their communities.

The unit serves areas between Nausori and Navua; the provinces of Namosi, Naitasiri, Rewa and Tailevu South; plus the islands of Koro, Ovalau and Moturiki.

Rewa Chief challenges parents

by Timoci Vula

Fiji Times - Wednesday, May 05, 2010

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Villagers from Vutia in Rewa with their cargo at Nasali landing ready to be taken to the market

A CHIEF of Burebasaga says parents are the best role models for their children in nurturing them to grow up into law-abiding citizens of this country.

Ro Epeli Mataitini, the Vunivalu of Rewa, said parents must always provide mature advice to their children.

He said children should be taught and not scolded so they found it in their hearts to listen and obey those teachings.

Ro Epeli quoted former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher who said: "You cannot have freedom unless you have order. You cannot have order unless there is law."

He said this statement promoted the law of loving and caring for one another and it was that love that needed to be spread out to everyone to foster good and longer relationship.

Another vital issue he raised was that on education.

He said the province's scholarship program must continue and all the people of Rewa must wholeheartedly support this because the students were the future leaders of the province.

The turaga na Vunivalu also called on men to respect women and to be mindful of the words used at village or district meetings.

This followed a call from the Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa, who expressed her feelings on how it hurt her to hear words that run down the efforts of women in provincial developments.

"E na gauna ni bose vakoro, me da qarauna na vosa e dau tau vei ira na marama." (At village meetings, we must be careful of words uttered to the women).

Ro Epeli also called on village and district representatives at the meeting to make sure issues discussed at the meeting were disseminated correctly to the people in their respective villages and districts.

Mataqali calls for proper surveys

by Ifereimi Nadore

Fiji Times - Wednesday, May 05, 2010

A LANDOWNING unit in Tailevu has called on government and the Native Land Trust Board to conduct a proper survey for the landowners on any of their land allocated for development to avoid disputes.

The mataqali Navukuta of Namau, Naloto said that by having a proper survey, it would avoid any dispute on land boundaries.

This followed a dispute over a piece of land where a local company extracted gravel from to be used for the construction of the Lodoni Highway. Two mataqali Narocake and Ulugai of Dakuinuku Village in Sawakasa claim to own the gravel extracted from the site but this was disputed by the mataqali of Navukuta.

Last week a member of the mataqali Navukuta chased workers from the site, saying they were trespassing.

Head of the mataqali Navukuta Tevita Tamanisau said while all the mataqali agreed to have their land used for development, it would only be proper to clearly identify their boundaries to avoid any dispute. He said members of the mataqali Navukuta wanted the workers to stop extracting gravel unless government and the NLTB stepped in to identify the boundaries.

Mr Tamanisau said NLTB, Lands Departments and the Native Lands Commission differed in classifying the boundaries.

"From what we know, rivers and creeks are being used as boundaries to separate two landowning units.

"Now that the river has changed its course it's not clear how the boundaries will be affected," he said.

No comments could be obtained from authorities.

Concern over lack of respect for women

Fiji Live News - May 02, 2010 

The paramount of chief of Rewa, the Gone Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi is unhappy with the way women in the province are being treated during village or district meetings.

Expressing disappointment at the Rewa Provincial Council meeting in Suva last week, Ro Teimumu said women are also crucial in decision-making processed at all levels.

“You should be careful about the kind of language you use on women in your villages and districts.

“It hurts me to hear the way some men speak to women at these meetings. Their contribution is just as important as mens’,” she told delegates.

Women, she said are important members of society and should be treated with respect.

Rewa Provincial Council chairman Pita Tagicakiverata emphasized the importance of the role of women at decision-making level.

Vunivalu of Rewa Ro Epeli Mataitini reiterated to told delegates the importance of women’s contribution.