Province records highest fish catch

Province records highest fish catch

www.sun.com.fj - 7/10/2008


An island province with the highest number of marine protected areas in Fiji has recorded the highest volume of fish bought from its Fisheries Center compared to the other centers around the country.
Kadavu has 48 marine protected (tabu) areas - the highest number among the 216 sites in Fiji. Vunisea fisheries officer Aporosa Rabo said they had seen the benefit of having restricted areas by the increase in the number of fish sold to their Rural Fisheries Service Centre.

“Kadavu had the highest in all of Fiji last year and this is the indicator of the volume of fish," he said. He also said many of the restricted fish species such as varivoce or humphead wrasse and turtles were being seen in those areas.

“This was revealed through our meetings with those who have MPAs - on the high volume of these species of fish," he said.

“And the common turtles seen in the area are the hawksbill and the green turtles.

“Also the chances of turtles coming in are high because of how their areas include the foreshore. Sandy beaches are where turtles lay their eggs."

Mr Rabo said there so much fish in the restricted areas that some had to go out and live outside these areas.

The main reason for these sites is to have a place for fish to feed, live, reproduce, grow and be safe from fishermen.

He said the centre assisted local fishermen by buying their fish so that they did not have to send their catch all the way to Suva.

Provinces maintain stand on charter

Provinces maintain stand on charter

www.sun.com.fj - 7/10/2008





With the cut-off date for provinces to submit nominees for the GCC meeting just around the corner, three provinces maintain their stand they will not join the council.
Rewa, Kadavu and Namosi have all stated they would uphold the decision made in their Bose Vanua that no support would be given to the new GCC regulation. Rewa Provincial Council spokesperson Pita Tagicakiverata said the province would stick to the decision despite the ultimatum given by the Fijian Affairs minister that he would choose the reps for the provinces who did not submit any names.

Mr Tagicakiverata said the province would abide by the decision of their chiefs and also the people of Rewa.

“We maintain our stand that we won’t give our support to the GCC or acknowledge the new regulations it comes with,’’ he said. Kadavu Provincial Council chairman Ratu Varani Rayawa said nothing has changed for the province and the decision not to acknowledge the GCC and its regulations would stand.

Namosi high chief, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua said his province won’t support the GCC and that decision which was decided during its provincial council meeting still stood.

But Lau has confirmed that it would be submitting names for the GCC next week.

Kubuna holds off on chief

Kubuna holds off on chief
www.fijitimes.com - Friday, July 11, 2008

THE installation of the paramount chief of the Kubuna confederacy will take place once the country's political climate stabilises, the kingmaker's clan spokesman said yesterday.

Ratu Veiwili Komaitai said they were not in a hurry to install a new vunivalu. And when they do, they would ensure protocols and traditions are followed.

The title has been vacant since the death of Ratu Sir George Cakobau in 1989.

Ratu Veiwili said the clan last discussed the issue last year.

He said once the Tui Kaba clan nominates the next vunivalu, then the Bau clan would meet.

"The installation of the vunivalu would not only involve Bau but other provinces too as we have close links with these provinces," he said.

Meanwhile, there has been no move by the vanua of Serua to install their paramount chief.

Serua Provincial Council chairman Ratu Samuela Waqainaceva said the vanua has made no plans.

"There is nothing coming from the vanua on that issue, so we don't have any plans on installing our chief," he said.

Tui Suva wants land compensation

Chief wants land compensation

www.sun.com.fj - 7/9/2008


A chief who claims to own the land on which he and others live wants compensation if they are to be re-located.
Tui Suva Ratu Epeli Kanakana, 83, says he is willing to vacate the land if he receives compensation from the Suva City Council.

He said he had moved to the settlement with his family four years ago and built his home.

He said it was unfair for the council to issue him with an eviction notice when the land was his.

“Unless and until I receive compensation I will continue to live here with my family,'' he said.

“This land was called Nacara and it is now known as Maunivatu squatter settlement.

“If the council wants to lease this land, they are to give me compensation. It’s not easy buying timber and building a house."

He said he had spoken with the director of lands showing a plan of the land he currently occupied.

“I have handed the lands department some paperwork and they will then decide on who is the rightful owner of this land,'' he said.

“I come under the Roko Tui Rewa, and they informed me about the government tribunal which I have been attending.

“This is my own land which has been handed down for many generations. Who are they to give me a letter to leave?"

SCC Lord Mayor Ratu Peni Volavola said the land Ratu Epeli was talking about belonged to the government and not him.

“As far as we are concerned we have received a lease from the lands department and the government is the rightful landowner," Ratu Peni said.

SCC’s Public Relations Officer Jillian Hicks said the tenants were given an extra week by the council to relocate.

She said enforcement officers will be checking residents of the area on when they will be vacating the land

Church leader to visit prisons

Church leader to visit prisons

www.sun.com.fj - 7/9/2008


Methodist Church president Reverend Laisiasa Ratabacaca is to visit the country’s two biggest prisons at the invitation of the Prisons Commissioner Ioane Naivalurua.
It is understood that the purpose of his visit to the Suva and Naboro Prisons was to mend the relationship of the vanua and the church.

Mr Naivalurua said at least 41 per cent of the inmates belonged to the church.

He said Ren Ratabacaca would be briefed at the Prisons Headquarters before proceeding on the tour to Naboro prison where he would be shown the maximum and minimum cells.

Mr Naivalurua said this is part of the prisons rehabilitation plans and work towards enhancing a better communication and future for those who will be released from time to time.

Rev Ratabacaca said he accepted the invitation by Mr Naivalurua with sincerity as it was to familiarise himself with the prison environment. He will be talking to the inmates and sharing words of encouragement.

Mr Naivalurua said from Naboro prison, they would then visit women prisoners at the Suva Prison.

He said the visit was part of the rehabilitation programmes which followed the Yellow Ribbon project.

The Yellow Ribbon project is a rehabilitation programme for ex-offenders that was launched on June 27.

It is focussed on the belief that there are no bad people and that rehabilitation programmes can be developed to assist in the re-integration of ex-offenders back into society, allowing them to live normal lives.

Naitasiri Chief to be Evicted

Chief wants reason for eviction

www.sun.com.fj - 7/9/2008



A landowner and chief is awaiting reason why he should vacate the land he occupies with his church group.
Ratu Loco Qiolevu said lawyers for the Matanikutu clan of Tamavua village were yet to give him a good reason why he should vacate the land.

“All we are doing here is carrying on with our lives. Yes, we worship here but no one is going to move me and my God from this place,” he said.

Ratu Loco is part of the One World Church which has its church based in Cunningham.

“I am a landowner and a direct descendant of the Qaranivalu (Naitasiri paramount chief),’’ he said.

Fijian businesses lack oversight, Ratu Joni

Fijian businesses lack oversight, Ratu Joni

VERENAISI RAICOLA

www.fijitimes.com - Thursday, July 10, 2008



RATU Joni Madraiwiwi says the establishment of provincial companies drawing on the communal organisation of Fijian society was intended to broaden indigenous participation in commerce and the private sector.

But its success has been limited as the mechanism of setting up companies on a provincial-wide basis has been a cumbersome method of seeking to benefit individual Fijians and their families, he said.

"Many Fijians contribute to community enterprises without deriving any material benefit for their effort," said Ratu Joni.

The former Vice-President said the provincial involvement in business was seen as a worthwhile concept without further analysis or consideration. He said a business required discipline, commitment and tight control over finance. Ratu Joni said provincial companies were established without clear corporate structures.

"The appointment of boards was inconsistent, shareholdings and payment of dividends uncertain for lack of specificity and there was little financial accountability.

"Further, there was a lack of oversight and administrative support to assist these businesses in their formative stages," he said.

Speaking at the opening of the Capital Markets Development Authority provincial and tikina companies workshop yesterday Ratu Joni said the structures of business from the board down to its most junior employees needs to be professional.

"Most provincial and tikina businesses have ad hoc arrangements in place that are no longer appropriate.

"The manner in which businesses conduct their activities and operations are factors which potential investors consider and study carefully."

Ratu Joni said if they liked what they saw, were satisfied with the corporate structures in place as well as the return on their investment, they would invest.

"If not, they go elsewhere."

Ratu Joni said provincial companies had problems having financial and accounting skills to maintain proper records.

He said examples of success stories were the Yatu Lau Company Limited, the Ka Levu Trust and its investments, Mucunabitu Ironworks Co-operative, Yavusa e Tolu Holdings of Narewa, Nadi and the tikina of Lutu in Naitasiri to name a few.

Ratu Joni said rent proceeds from the Native Land Trust Board amounted to more than $30million annually that could provide a huge potential for investment capital.

"Most of the funds continue to be utilised by Fijian landowners for their daily needs. "It is of course their money and they may use it as they wish.

"But it is also incumbent upon leaders in the landowner community to look beyond their immediate wants, to business and education opportunities for themselves and their mataqali, yavusa or vanua," said Ratu Joni.

He said rent collected by the NLTB was significant as it represented capital sums that could be deployed for wider effect.

Provincial firm hits $2.2m
Thursday, July 10, 2008

LAST year was the first time a provincial company raised $2.2million from capital markets through a public share offering.

Capital Markets development Authority chairman Daryl Tarte said the initial public offering by Yatu Lau Company was targeted to raise $1.5m.

Mr Tarte said at the close of the 30-day offer period the company received applications valued at $2.8m and had to refund $593,304 as the total share allocation was oversubscribed.

"The authority believes many more provincial and tikina companies can do the same and may flourish from the disciplined and regulated capital markets."