Over 80% in Rural Fijian Communities in Debt

Fiji Village News - 19 April 2010 Jeff Liew - UNDP Advisor

More than 80 percent of people living in rural Fijian communities are in debt as a recent study has found that borrowing in Fijian communities is pervasive and financial literacy is very low.

That is the revelation from the financial capacity Advisor for UNDP, Jeff Liew at the launch of the Financial Capability, financial Competency and well being in rural Fijian households survey carried out by the UNDP.

Liew said the survey which was carried out in a total of 14 villages in Naitasiri highlighted that in Fijian communities the ability to manage debt was very low, with 50% of the villagers not even understanding the meaning of loans.

Liew said this lack of financial literacy would see people falling victim to "get rich quick" schemes and other fraudulent activities.

Meanwhile, ANZ Chief Executive for Fiji Norman Wilson said that as part of their community program they are undertaking the Rural Banking Initiative which has seen over 70 thousand people take advantage since it started in 2004.

The research which was undertaken in 2007 and was this afternoon released jointly by ANZ and UNDP.

Vanua installs Turaga Na Ratu of Dawasamu

Samuela Loanakadavu

Fiji Times - Saturday, April 17, 2010

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Dawasamu chief Ratu Peni Waqa (above and right) drinks a bowl of yaqona after his installation as Turaga na Ratu of Dawasamu

THE tikina of Dawasamu in Tailevu officially installed Ratu Peni Waqa Veilave, 73, as their chief after 28 years of confusion and uncertainty.

On Thursday, more than 300 people from the eight yavusa under the title of the Turaga na Ratu gathered at the village of Delakado to witness this historic occasion.

The eldest in the king-maker clan of Voni, Nacanieli Lagilagi, told the Fiji Times the vanua of Dawasamu had been under a curse in the last 100 years because of a dispute over who should be in charge of the official installation of chiefs.

Speaking in Fijian, Mr Lagilagi said they knew what was going on because so many relatives of the title holder had died because of the king-maker's wrongdoing.

Ratu Peni is only the second chief to be traditionally installed by the yavusa Voni who are the rightful king-makers.

Mr Lagilagi said the past four chiefly title holders were installed by another group from the same yavusa and the result was death to the title holders and his family members.

He said Ratu Peni's father, Ratu Seva Veilave, had seen the worst of it in the 1970s when his brother died prematurely along with a sister-in-law and his 18-year-old son.

Mr Lagilagi said only a few weeks ago, Ratu Peni was admitted at the CWM Hospital but the cause of the sickness could not be determined.

He said it was only after the last meeting to confirm the installation ceremony was held, did he become well again.

The newly-installed Turaga na Ratu will spend four nights with all of the eight chiefs of the yavusa before he is taken back to his residence in Driti to assume his chiefly seat.

Assistant Roko Tui Tailevu Veresi Sakunitoga was also present at the installation.

'Where are the Elders'

Maneesha Karan

Fiji Times - Friday, April 16, 2010

People have lost their traditional culture which once helped raise respectful responsible youths.

This is the view of the president of Reclaiming Youth International, Dr Larry Brendtro, while conducting a workshop for youth workers and professionals concerned with the support and development of young people in communities at a three-day workshop at Studio 6 that ended yesterday.

"While the traditional culture can be identified as more close-knit, the Western culture depicts more of individuality," Dr Brendtro said. "In all traditional cultures, the kinship system was not the nuclear family. In the indigenous system, our father's brother was considered our father and likewise the mother's sister was considered the mother. So if something happens to the either of the parents, their kin would be there to protect and provide for the kid."

Unfortunately, such cases were rare in the present society, he said. The youngsters were under the elders constant guidance in the olden days, he said.

"The elders taught kids how to be respectful. However, in the Western culture, kids have two or one parent and the kid spends more time with their peers rather than at home.

"In the traditional culture, kids spent only 10 per cent of their time with their peers. Tradition taught how to respect the child and teach the kid to become responsible. They considered children as their property.

"Elders were expected to get the children to learn values. But now, where have all the elders gone?"

He said the lack of connection between children and elders made all children all the more vulnerable to be involved in unwanted activities such drugs and sexual activities.

"We have to create a system that will help do a better job to connect adults and move away from juvenile delinquents," Dr Brendtro, who is also a dean at Starr Commonwealth, a school for difficult youths, said.

Village Dream Takes Shape

Fiji Times - Tuesday, April 13, 2010

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Tourists from Australia with Nasivikoso villagers

THE realisation of having their own school and a nursing station may come sooner rather than later for villagers of Nasivikoso.

The villagers, along with project managers of Fiji Dreaming, recently held a sports day fundraiser in aid of the school and the nursing station.

Children of Nasivikoso attend the neighboring village schools in Bukuya and Natutale Primary School.

When weather conditions are unfavorable, students do not attend classes because they have to cross nearby streams which are prone to flash-flooding.

Fiji Dreaming project manager Clint Miller said talks on setting up this project have been in the pipeline for the last two years. Fiji Dreaming donated $1000, the village raised around $3000 and the visiting Australian students contributed about $500.

Mr Miller said the funds collected were not enough, adding they needed the assistance of business houses.

"From my perspective there has never been any understanding of how we do this project and learning about how the government designates a nursing station or a primary school for that matter," he said.

"Businesses could get in touch with us on projectsfijidreaming.com.

"After completing kindergarten, the young children would have to go away to school. We want to give their parents to share the education with the children."

Mr Miller said the project would start with classes one and two.

Fiji Dreaming local project manager Alifereti Nasokia said the one thing they had been teaching the villagers was the placement of their priorities.

Lomaivuna Landowners Evict Farmer

Fiji Times - Tuesday, April 13, 2010

A FARMER had a rude awakening early yesterday morning after angry landowners ordered he vacate a piece of land that his family had been leasing for the past 40 years.

Setareki Bogidrau, 49, of Lomaivuna, Sector 8 in Naitasiri, said landowners from Nabaitavu Village wanted the immediate removal of his belongings despite the assurance of the Native Land Trust Board that he would be granted an extension of lease.

Mr Bogidrau said his wife's family had applied for the renewal of their lease after it expired in 2008 which was approved by the NLTB.

"We have been offered a 30-year lease but the landowners wanted us to move out because they wanted to use the land," said Mr Bogidrau.

He said that despite the assurance from the NLTB the landowners took the law in their own hands and erected a fence around the 10-acre farm.

"They wanted to graze animal on this land and since then they've released some cows into our compound," said Mr Bogidrau.

He said the presence of animal would spoil a reliable water source they had using since their arrival from Lau to Lomaivuna.

Last night, Mr Bogidrau, his wife and their six children were sheltering at one of their relatives' home directly opposite the disputed land.

Attempts to get comments from the NLTB general manager Alipate Qetaki last night proved futile.

Police Arrest 38 Poachers in Macuata

by Serafina Silaitoga

Fiji Times - Saturday, April 10, 2010

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Qoliqoli patrol ... police officers confiscate fish, gear and boats from fishermen and women caught poaching off Mali Island in Macuata, Vanua.

THIRTY eight people were arrested by the police yesterday for allegedly poaching, and their catch, five boats and fishing gear were impounded.

The 38 people 29 men and nine women were allegedly fishing illegally at the Vuata reefs, outside Mali Island in Macuata on Thursday afternoon when they were arrested.

Police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said they were in police custody.

He said the villagers of Mali reported the matter to the island's fishing wardens.

"The wardens approached them on Thursday afternoon, took them to the village, kept them overnight, fed and looked after them well until police arrived," IP Sokomuri said.

"The wardens contacted the police on Thursday after taking in the 38 people. That was good initiative."

Inspector Sokomuri said people have been repeatedly told to get a fishing licence and to fish within the designated area.

He said the police was working with Fisheries on the case.

It is understood that the 38 people are from villages in Macuata.

Tui Macuata Ratu Aisea Katonivere, who heads the Qoliqoli Cokovata Committee in the province of Macuata of which Mali is a member applauded the action of his wardens and police.

"I feel for those villagers but the law is the law and we have always reminded people to get their fishing licences and fish within the licensed boundary.

"The fishing wardens and relevant authorities did a good job and we praise them for their work in keeping watch over our qoliqoli area," he said.

Ratu Aisea said this was not the first time poachers were arrested and questioned by the police and Fisheries.

"It's time we protect our qoliqoli and we thank the media for doing a good job in promoting the need to protect our qoliqoli," he said.

Rewa Bridge Landmark to be Assessed

Fiji Times - Friday, April 09, 2010

The Ministry of Works has hired a consultant to assess the structure of the old Rewa Bridge.

This was confirmed by Ministry of Work's spokeswoman Sainiana Waqainabete who said a company was hired for $200,000.

"The ministry has appointed a consultant called Roughton International, they will assess the capabilities of the structures on the old bridge. Concurrent activities will also be taking place whereby engineers are identifying some locations where the bridge's structures can be used.

"The hired company will also work on whether the old structures could be matched to other locations. The assessment report will be released and a tender to dismantle the old bridge will be issued around June this year. Parts which will not be useful purpose will be sold for scrap use," Ms Waqainabete said.

Though the ministry has announced the dismantling, villagers of Nausori are still hopeful the bridge will be left untouched as a historic landmark.

Komai Nausori Ratu Meli Balenaivalu said such a proposal was discussed by the Tailevu Provincial Council last year and it was submitted to the Government.

"We believe the old Rewa Bridge will be a good tourist attraction. Nausori Village was situated where the market and the police station are now. We shifted here in 1935 because the government wanted to build the bridge. The works on the bridge began in 1936 and was opened in 1937," Ratu Meli said.

He said the villagers were hoping for a positive feedback. Ratu Meli said the bridge could be developed into a handicraft market.

"The villagers can sell their handicraft and this will help them earn income for their families. The main reason why the Government wants to dismantle it is because of the high maintenance cost," he said.