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.

Education should be main priority-Tui Namosi

Fiji Village News - 29 April 2010

Tui Namosi Ratu Suliano Matanitobua

The Turaga Tui Namosi has stressed that if education levels drop within the province, then it is the fault of the parents.

Ratu Suliano Matanitobau made the comments while opening the Namosi Provincial Council meeting today at the Ro Koroduadua house in Navua, stressing to members of the council that education of their children should be the main priority within the province.

Tokasa Rainima with this report.

Earlier in the day Ratu Suliano called on chiefs to support Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama's government.

Ratu Suliano has called on the chiefs to write a letter to the Prime Minister to show the Province's support on the work currently being carried out by the Government.

Unite, Rewa chiefs told

Fiji Live News - April 29, 2010 


Delegates at the Rewa Provincial Council meeting have been urged to unite and work together for the betterment of the province.

At the end of the two-day meet in Suva, the Turaga na Vunivalu of Rewa, Ro Epeli Mataitini urged the district representatives to be considerate of each other’s needs and look out for one another.

He emphasized the importance of children’s education, saying it must be given priority.

“After all our children are the ones who will replace us and lead our province into the future,” he said.

He also urged them that as parents, they must be careful about the language and tone they use in teaching their children.

“They (children) must know that when they are disciplined they are merely being corrected and still very much loved,” Mataitini said.

The Gone Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi was also present at the meeting.

Rewa Province expected to venture into dredging business

Fiji Village News - 29 April 2010

Pita Tagicakiverata

The Rewa Province is expected to venture into the dredging business and supplying raw sand to construction companies in order to fundraise for their future generations.

Assistant Chairman of the Provincial Council Pita Tagicakiverata said the business arm of the Province, the Rewa Provincial Holdings has purchased a dredging machine from China.

Tagicakiverata added that as a result they are now in talks with various cement companies to supply sand. 

The money will then be used to assist in the scholarships for the students in the province.

The Rewa Provincial Meeting being held at Suvavou villages ends today.

Bible for children

by Ifereimi Nadore

Fiji Times - Thursday, April 29, 2010

ALL Class One and two students of Rewa Province will be given a Bible to spiritually guide them in their daily program.

The new initiative is part of Rewa Provincial Coun-cil's effort to help parents raise their children.

Burebasaga paramount chief Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa, in opening the council meeting at Suvavou Village yesterday, said parents must ensure that they provided proper guidance to their children so that they could become better people in the future.

She said a total of 800 bibles were distributed to Class One and two students of Rewa Province early this month.

The bibles were sponsored by the students of Adi Cakobau School.

Ro Teimumu said the education of the child should start at home and parents should make an effort to guide their children to achieve their goals.

She said parents should teach their children about their roles in the vanua.

"Parents must clearly tell their children who they are and what role they should play for the vanua," said Ro Teimumu.

She also urged parents to provide healthy food for their children, saying that they must provide lots of fruits and vegetables to avoid unwanted diseases.

New laws for villagers

Fiji Times - Thursday, April 29, 2010

THE daily affairs of each village in Fiji will be governed by a new set of laws to be introduced soon.

The new laws, which are being reviewed by the Ministry of Fijian Affairs, has the input of all village headmen from all 14 provinces of Fiji.

Rewa Provincial Council chairman Pita Tagicakiverata told the Rewa Provincial Council meeting yesterday that the Fijian Affairs Board was satisfied with the set of laws submitted by Vunisinu Village in Rewa.

He said this set of laws would be used as a guide for all villages.

However, Mr Tagicakiverata said, the new village laws would be within the ambit of the laws of Fiji.

"We wouldn't like to see that the new laws oppose the law of the land," he said.

"The village headmen had been reminded of this." It is anticipated that the new laws will help improve the standard of living in every village.

All village headmen will be given the responsibility to see that all villagers adhere to the new laws.

Similar types of laws were introduced in the colonial era whereby those who broke them had to stand trial in a Fijian court system.

Unlike the criminal court system, those who offend will serve his or her punishment within the community.

Source: Fiji Times

Dont forget the younger generation - Ro Teimumu

Fiji Village News - 28 April 2010

Rewa High Chief Ro Temumu Kepa has called on leaders in the province not to forget the younger generation and to ensure that more women are given scholarships from the provincial scholarship fund.

Addressing the various Mata ni tikina=s as well as Government representatives at the Rewa Provincial Council meet at Suvaou village today, Ro Temumu praised the setting up of the Scholarship provision in 2007 up until now.

She added that the young children of Rewa have been able to get good education and many of them now occupy good posts.

However, she adds that out of the total number of scholarships only 46.75 percent has been given to girls and calls for them to consider giving more emphasis to girls as they are the ones who are very disadvantaged in society.

She said that the education of women is important as they are the ones that raise the future generation and more needs to be done for them.

Ro Temumu also said at the recent Pacific Food summit, it was revealed that malaria and mal-nutrition was an issue as the mothers were not aware of the right type of food to eat and this could have been avoided if the ladies had a good education.

The Rewa Provincial council meeting at Suvavou Village will end tommorrow.

Asaeli picks up pieces

Fiji Times - Wednesday, April 28, 2010

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Asaeli Matanitoakula with his children inside his rebuilt home after Hurricane Tomas

LIKE other victims of Hurricane Tomas, Asaeli Matanitoakula lost everything in the disaster -- from his six children's clothes to their home at Matanadrave settlement in Tunuloa, Cakaudrove.

Disturbed by the natural disaster, Asaeli moved his family to a relative's home a week after Tomas left our shores but that didn't keep him from getting on with life.

Picking up the pieces, Asaeli built a new home for his wife and children from the remains of his old home, which was taken down by Tomas on the eve of March 14.

With broken pieces of wood and roofing iron, Asaeli nailed the pieces together -- joining them to make longer pieces of wood to help rebuild his home.

In Fijian, he softly said: "Au sa tara ga na neitou vale baleta na bula ni noqu matavuvale e bibi cake mai na waraka tiko na veivuke (I have just moved on with life because my family's life is more important then waiting for help)."

Asaeli, whose wife is sickly, said he had no choice but to build his new home because he needed to provide shelter for his family.

Being a victim of such a loss is not an easy experience as he explained the heartbreak he endured -- seeing his children standing homeless outside their devastated home.

"E dua na ka mosimosi, ia au sa vakaukauwa ga me'u tara tale na neitou vale vakamatavuvale baleta me rawa kina na toso (It is such a painful experience but I had to gather the strength to rebuild our lives and move on).

"Meda raica na luveda, mera duri tu e tuba ka davo tu na vale e dakudra e a kauta ga mai na tagi, ia au vakavinavinakataka na Kalou ena nona veitaqomaki (For us to see our children standing outside their fallen house only brings tears to our eyes but I thank God for his protection," Asaeli said.

Three weeks after Hurricane Tomas struck parts of Cakaudrove in the north and islands in the Lau Group, Asaeli built a one-bedroom home for his family.

He also built a kitchen adjacent to the house with materials he could find.

His old home had three bedrooms with a spacious kitchen inside.

But that has not affected Asaeli, who believes that self reliance and independence help bring a better tomorrow.

He said that because of his strong belief in always looking forward to a better tomorrow, his life has not been badly affected by Tomas.

Instead he has taken the hurricane as a way of improving his building skills to provide his family with a better home.

NLTB works on land use

Fiji Times - Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Jo Serulagilagi

CONSULTATIONS between Native Land Trust Board officers and landowners are still ongoing says Native Land Trust Board General Manager Alipate Qetaki.

He said they wanted to focus on the issue of better utilisation of land when discussing lease extensions or renewals.

"What is required is a proper balancing of all interests and to ensure that we reach a win-win situation," Mr Qetaki said.

He said no problem had been been encountered by the NLTB consultation team, which have been discussing with farmers on issues and Government's expectation with the landowners.

Mr Qetaki said they were aware of expiring and expired dairy leases.

"Farmers are advised to talk to NLTB in good time. NLTB also discusses landowner issues with farmers so that they are aware of these. NLTB is part of the effort to see that agricultural leases, including dairy leases, are extended," he said.

"There are landowner issues that need to be addressed. Some of these issues are now being addressed and resolved by the Government like the rent subsidy scheme."

He said there was a problem of rent arrears which someone had to pay and there was also the question of premiums and farmers had been advised that a win-win situation was to be achieved for all.

Mr Qetaki said it was normal for the tenant to indicate an intention to have a lease extended and this would trigger renewal mechanisms set out in the NLTB regulations.

"Most of the dairy leases are for 99 years so it is normal procedure that the landowners are consulted on the matter after the land has been alienated for so long," he said.

Last week, Rewa Co-operative Dairy Limited chairman Josefa Serulagilagi said most of the farmers whose land leases expired at the end of this year supplied between 1000 to 2000 litres of milk to the company every day.

He said these were "big- time farmers" with large farms and were major suppliers to the company.

"These farmers are from the Korovou, Waimaro and Wainivesi areas and if their leases are not renewed, it could add further problems to the company," he said.

He said there was a team in place to liaise with landowners and the Native Land Trust Board on the expiry of land leases issue, its effects and the need to renew these leases.

Head of Govermment Voreqe Bainimara was briefed by dairy farmers on the expiry of leases.

At least seven leases will expire by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, consultations will be held between the Public Service Commission and Ministry of Agriculture senior officers on complaints raised by the Rewa Dairy farmers.

PSC chief executive Parmesh Chand said he was aware of the issues raised by dairy farmers during their meeting with Commodore Bainimarama two weeks ago. "We will consult on deficiencies in manpower or work practices and how it can be rectified," Mr Chand said.

He said it was their duty to see if there was " lack of resources and we will attend to that".

Strict village bylaws face review

by Theresa Ralogaivau

Fiji Times - Monday, April 26, 2010

EXISTING village bylaws that infringe on personal rights or expose people to harm and contradict State laws will be removed.

A consultation process on a set of village bylaws being proposed by the Fijian Affairs Board has covered 105 villages in the province. Roko Tui Cakaudrove Ro Aca Mataitini said villages had their own bylaws and these laws whether generated by the village or proposed by the province must be in line with government laws.

Laws forbidding same sex encounters, premarital legal age sex or extra marital sex were proposed for implementation at the council meeting last year and may be abandoned.

A law at Nukubalavu Village forbids the wearing of shoes in the village. Mr Mataitini said villagers have been told that laws that infringe on rights or expose people to harm would be removed.

or injury will have to be reconsidered.

"They can come up with any law but the final say rests with the government," he said.

The issue is up for discussion at May 25th and 26th provincial council meet at Yaroi village in Savusavu.

The consultation process on the laws proposed by the Fijian Affairs Board is expected to end in June.

Yaqona Sale to go Online

Fiji Village News - 23 April 2010

With the government calling on all industry stakeholders to look at new initiatives and ideas to develop Fiji's industries and increase export dollars, a leading local kava outlet is now getting ready to start selling kava online.

Lami Kava which has been in the kava retail business for the last 24 years said the overseas market for kava is now getting bigger with many Fijians living abroad.

Lami Kava Managing Director, Donnie Yee is hoping that he will get the necessary assistance to start off this new initiative.

Yee also said the company has come up with a unique style of packaging that will preserve the kava for months.

Fiji's kava industry is hoping that the government provides the necessary assistance to regulate the industry and try to boost kava exports.

Hopes are also high that the kava ban in some countries will be lifted.

There are some positive indications.

A few months ago a team conducted a Queensland University study on kava and it is advocating the establishment of a regional Kava Quality Control Mechanism to ensure that the quality of the kava to be exported meets the necessary standards.

Researcher Jerome Saris said they have also established that the kava pills that resulted in the overseas bans were really concentrated. 

Saris said the university is now looking for support to conduct an even bigger trial to test kava's depression relieving properties against standard anti-depressant medication.

The Agriculture Ministry is expected to comment on Lami Kava's new initiative and the future of the kava industry later today.

Messiah Flock Defiant

by Serafina Silatoga

Thursday, April 22, 2010

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Villagers of Nakawakawa in Bua look at the remains of Sairusi Nabogibogi's burnt house. Picture: SERAFINA SILAITOGA

FOLLOWERS of the Messiah Movement founded by the late Sairusi Nabogibogi have refused to move out of Nakawakawa Village in Bua.

Instead, they have called on the Tui Wainunu, Ratu Orisi Baleitavea, and the turaga ni yavusa (clan head), Naniu Drau, Ilieasa Ratusaki, to resolve the matter through dialogue.

The followers were told to move after arsonists burned a home built in Mr Nabogibogi's memory at the weekend.

Mr Nabogobogi, who was from Nakorotubu in Ra, formed the movement in the 1960s to promote communal living and farming.

Profits from communal farms were shared and used to build homes and develop a settlement at Selemi on the north-eastern coast of Viti Levu.

His mother was from Nakawakawa.

The group's senior member, Samuela Sigatokaicake, said the traditional leaders had not informed them about the ultimatum.

Ratu Orisi told the Fiji Times he gave the group two weeks to move out of the village as they had continued to treasure the property of Mr Nabogibogi.

Nakawakawa Village headman Tevita Kubi said the group should respect the wishes of the chief and move out.

But Mr Sigatokaicake claimed that his members had brought major changes to the lives of poor families in the village.

He said the group had opened a shop and started a dalo farming program aimed at improving living standards in the village.

Mr Sigatokaicake said the farming program had returned good earnings to their members and enabled them to afford educational expenses.

He added that Jesus Christ remained their God and they were members of the Methodist Church.