Tui Ono Bemoans Isolation

Fiji Sun News - 9 July 2010

The isolation of the islands of Ono-i-Lau in the Lau group will continue to be limiting factor for its people.

These were the words of the Tui Ono, Asaeli Tawawili commenting on their 20-year development plan.

He said the location of the islands will delay works on a number of projects. 

"The isolation of the islands will continue to be a limiting factor, in terms of transport costs and the availability of raw materials, in the implementation of projects on the islands, which will impact the timely completion of projects," Mr Tawawili said. 

Mr Tawawili said his people are to strive to find ways for new economic opportunities for those on the islands to address the drift of the tikina's population from the islands to urban centres. 

"We should be proud of being an Ono-i-Lauan and should protect our identity, language, culture, tradition and values.

Leadership at all levels of the community is vital for advice and directing the people towards unity in the development of the islands," he added.

Ono-i-Lau to Remain in Fiji
Fiji Sun News - 9 July 2010
The people of Ono-i-Lau in the Lau Group will never move to Tonga as initially suggested, district advisor Anare Jale said. 

“We have no plans of moving,” Mr Jale said. 

In 2008, a faction of the people of Ono-i-Lau suggested that Ono-i-Lau breaks away and joins Tonga. 

Mr Jale said that will never happen. 

“Our culture and tradition may be the same as the Tongans but we remain as Fijians and we will continue to do so,” he said. 

Ono-i-Lau is the farthest island in the Lau Group and is located close to Tongatapu in the Kingdom of Tonga. It was for this reason that the people of Ono-i-Lau chose to sail to Tonga to do their shopping before the enforcement of maritime borders.

As they launch their Development Plan at the two-day celebration that came to a close in Valelevu on Saturday, part of it was to promote the Ono culture and spirit of community and unity among all the people of Ono. 

The celebration will now become an annual event, says r Jale, who is the chairman of the Ono-i-Lau Development Plan Committee.

Ono-i-Lau folks keen on culture


Fiji Sun News - 8 July 2010

A property worth $250,000 will be bought by the people of Ono-i-Lau to be their headquarter in Suva.

The fundraising to collect money for the headquarter was done in a two-day Ono-i-Lau Day at the Valelevu grounds in Nasinu last week.

Their development committee chairman Anare Jale said the facility would also be used as a business entity.

“It will be used as our meeting place for women, youths and so forth. We have $50,000 already with us and we set our target of achieving $200,000 from this fundraising,” Mr Jale said.

This is part of their development plans as they try to promote the Ono culture and spirit of community and unity among all Ono-i-Lauans by 2012.

Mr Jale said they wished to sustain the integrity of Ono-i-Lau culture and traditions and to effectively promote interest among their youths in regard to the preservation of their heritage by 2020.

“Youths are taught to perform the meke and all traditional dances, especially those living on the main land because we do not want the erosion of culture,” he said.

Yesterday's event saw entertainments provided by youths of all the villages of Ono-i-Lau who are living on Viti Levu.

Foods used during the event were shipped from the island.

The fundraising was opened by those living in Australia and the United States of America.

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Fijians told to Sell their Traditional Souls for Progress - Bainimarama

Fiji's traditional obligations a hinderence to growth

Sunday, September 05, 2010 - FBC News

Church and traditional obligations has been one of the main concern dragging us backwards says Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. 

Speaking to the people of Naitasiri, Bainimarama says church event like the annual Methodist Church conference and other traditional affairs often slow down our economical development especially for the indigenous Fijian. 

The Prime Minister says he did not want to speak ill of the church but says changes are needed for the betterment of the people. 

Bainimarama says it is time to put away with some of these obligations which has been one of the causes of poverty and deprived us from leading a healthy and wealthy life.

Report by : Sekope Toduadua

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Fiji has only six villages legally registered

Report by : Maca Lutunauga   - FBC News

Monday, August 23, 2010

Only six villages in Fiji have legally proclaimed and gazetted their village boundaries with the Native Lands Commission and the Native Land Trust Board. 

NLC chairman Ratu Viliame Tagivetaua told FBC news that they have sent recommendations to the ministry of Fijian Affairs and government on ways other villagers could be assisted to have their village boundaries gazetted. 

Ratu Viliame has called on landowners to seek the rest of the landowner’s approval to have their village boundaries legally proclaimed and gazetted. 

He says the commission will not reveal the names of the six villages due to the sensitivity of the village boundaries issues.

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Chief wants clear lines

Theresa Ralogaivau

Monday, August 23, 2010

THE State has been asked to clearly demarcate provincial boundaries of Macuata and Cakaudrove, to remove the disagreements and tension in a village confused about the province it belongs to.

Ratu Peni Vukicanavanua told Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama at a recent meeting that the unclear boundary between the two provinces was causing confusion at Batiri Village.

Batiri Village has two of almost everything ù village headmen, development plans, village meetings and conch shells ù as one side swears allegiance to Macuata and the other to Cakaudrove.

The village sits on the border of Cakaudrove and Macuata outside Seaqaqa.

Disputes still exist between Yavusa Batiri ù which believes they belong to Macuata ù and Yavusa Seaqaqa ù which believes they belong to Cakaudrove.

This is in spite of a village meeting earlier this year where the Roko Tui Cakaudrove Ro Aca Mataitini told all the villagers they owed allegiance to Cakaudrove.

Ro Aca had 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 division 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."

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Flawed engineering

by Alisi Daurewa
Fiji Times - Saturday, August 14, 2010

Colonial administrators outside Fiji's first government complex in Levuka

THE proposed village by-laws by the Ministry of i Taukei must be examined carefully to take into consideration, the impact of the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB) on Fijian society and its 'snowball' effect of chiefly and land disputes, on community development.

Otherwise, the inability of village leaders to manage change and development may transform from the 'frying pan into the fire'.

The VKB is an import from post colonialism.

It is a register of indigenous Fijians maintained by the Native Lands Commission (NLC).

It was introduced by the colonial administration to determine land ownership.

In the 19th and early 20th century, when Fijians were selling land for others who couldn't defend themselves or, out of attraction for firearms, there was so much confusion over land rights that traditional practices were abandoned.

In response, the Colonial Administration registered land ownership by 'mataqali' or sub-clans.

Ratu Savenaca Seniloli, a Baun chief who recorded boundary claims in 1903 appealed to the Governor against the 'mataqali' because it was a western concept and that the 'tokatoka' or household was more appropriate. (France, 1969).

Furthermore, the VKB, as noted by Fijian writers like the late anthropologist Dr Rusiate Nayacakalou and academic Dr Alumita Durutalo brought rigidity to a Fijian way of life that was traditionally mobile and a chiefly system that was earned and not inherited.

Some members of Fijian society have benefited from the VKB by an elevation from 'lesser to higher role'. Others had to abandon their traditional roles because they did not meet the VKB criteria of seven social task roles of chief, spokesperson, carpenter, fisherfolk, warrior, priest and administrator.

Therefore, those who belonged to the Melanesian characteristic tribe of elders were conditioned by the process of VKB to fit themselves into the polynesian hierarchical system of local governance which was prevalent in Eastern Fiji and adopted social task roles mentioned above that were not traditional.

The following is a present day consequence of the 'one size fits all' concept of the VKB;

Earlier this year, I learnt of a village dispute where some elders argued over the order in which the ceremonial cup of yaqona should be consumed.

The assistance of the NLC was sought and officials visited the villagers to facilitate discussions.

During the meeting the officials based on information recorded in the NLC asked the villagers as to who held the positions of chief, spokesperson, priest and warrior.

There was confusion over these roles and sitting arrangement so that by the end of the day after the meeting, the villagers were more confused than before the arrival of the officials from the NLC.

Traditionally, the village was a tribe of elders with a spokesperson whose social task role was called the matanivanua.

This role changed to chief under the VKB registration in the 1920s.

The demarcation of household sites in the village today indicates a circle of tribal elders while the spokesperson and adopted households sit outside the circle.

The question I would ask the proposers of the village by-laws to ponder is: "How can I best apply justice to a people who are victims of social engineering by a foreign system that their leaders have failed to address in line with change and development?"

These are the personal views of the author.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=153613

Flawed Engineering

Fiji Times Online News

by Alisi Daurewa

Colonial administrators outside Fiji's first government complex in Levuka

THE proposed village by-laws by the Ministry of i Taukei must be examined carefully to take into consideration, the impact of the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB) on Fijian society and its 'snowball' effect of chiefly and land disputes, on community development.

Otherwise, the inability of village leaders to manage change and development may transform from the 'frying pan into the fire'. The VKB is an import from post colonialism.

It is a register of indigenous Fijians maintained by the Native Lands Commission (NLC). It was introduced by the colonial administration to determine land ownership. In the 19th and early 20th century, when Fijians were selling land for others who couldn't defend themselves or, out of attraction for firearms, there was so much confusion over land rights that traditional practices were abandoned.

In response, the Colonial Administration registered land ownership by 'mataqali' or sub-clans.

Ratu Savenaca Seniloli, a Baun chief who recorded boundary claims in 1903 appealed to the Governor against the 'mataqali' because it was a western concept and that the 'tokatoka' or household was more appropriate. (France, 1969).

Furthermore, the VKB, as noted by Fijian writers like the late anthropologist Dr Rusiate Nayacakalou and academic Dr Alumita Durutalo brought rigidity to a Fijian way of life that was traditionally mobile and a chiefly system that was earned and not inherited.

Some members of Fijian society have benefited from the VKB by an elevation from 'lesser to higher role'. Others had to abandon their traditional roles because they did not meet the VKB criteria of seven social task roles of chief, spokesperson, carpenter, fisherfolk, warrior, priest and administrator.

Therefore, those who belonged to the Melanesian characteristic tribe of elders were conditioned by the process of VKB to fit themselves into the polynesian hierarchical system of local governance which was prevalent in Eastern Fiji and adopted social task roles mentioned above that were not traditional.

The following is a present day consequence of the 'one size fits all' concept of the VKB;

Earlier this year, I learnt of a village dispute where some elders argued over the order in which the ceremonial cup of yaqona should be consumed. The assistance of the NLC was sought and officials visited the villagers to facilitate discussions. During the meeting the officials based on information recorded in the NLC asked the villagers as to who held the positions of chief, spokesperson, priest and warrior. There was confusion over these roles and sitting arrangement so that by the end of the day after the meeting, the villagers were more confused than before the arrival of the officials from the NLC. Traditionally, the village was a tribe of elders with a spokesperson whose social task role was called the matanivanua. This role changed to chief under the VKB registration in the 1920s. The demarcation of household sites in the village today indicates a circle of tribal elders while the spokesperson and adopted households sit outside the circle.

The question I would ask the proposers of the village by-laws to ponder is: "How can I best apply justice to a people who are victims of social engineering by a foreign system that their leaders have failed to address in line with change and development?"

These are the personal views of the author.

Fijian Affairs Ministry changes name to "Itaukei"

FBC News - July 31, 2010

The Ministry of Fijian Affairs will now be officially known as the Ministry of I-taukei. 

The change comes following amendments made to the Fijian Affairs Decree 2010.

It states that all written laws, including any promulgations, decrees and the titles of any written law be amended by deleting the word ‘Fijian’ and replacing it with ‘i-taukei.’

 Likewise, wherever the word ‘indigenous Fijian’ is used it is to be replaced by ‘i-taukei.’

Government says the legal framework within which the Ministry operates remains the same in terms of covering the Itaukei Affairs Act and Regulations, the Native Lands & Fisheries Commission Act, and the Native Lands Act.

Fiji Customs and Traditions

Mositi Vanuaso

A taste of Fiji. 'The Commonwealth Conversation'.

Clans Leaderless

IFEREIMI NADORE

Fiji Times - Wednesday, July 28, 2010

A TOTAL of 2462 mataqali (landowning units) and 584 yavusa (clans) have yet to choose their respective heads, the Native Lands Commission revealed yesterday.

This, according to provincial administrators, hindered the progress of developments within Fiji's 14 provinces.

They said that efforts to utilise native land for commercial purposes had to be shelved for most of the heads of the landowning units and clans have yet to be traditionally installed.

"The delay affects progress in terms of land development on the commercial level," said Roko Tui Bua Kalivati Tauvoli.

He said despite having an abundance of natural resources, developing the land in Bua was restricted because traditional leaders were yet to be confirmed in their positions.

For the Bua Province alone, 32 landowning unit heads and 162 clan heads have yet to be confirmed.

Mr Tauvoli said it was encouraging to see that some mataqali and yavusa had taken the initiatiave to traditionally install their leaders for the past six months.

He said failing to deregister the names of leaders who had passed away also contributed to the delay.

Based on the figures, Tailevu Province has the highest number of vacant positions for landowning unit heads with 377 recorded as of June this year.

The NLC said that filling vacant positions was an ongoing practice which they would like each province to fulfil for the benefit of the members.

However the NLC said each mataqali and yavusa had a strict criteria to follow before they forwarded the names to each provincial office for approval.

Roko Tui Ba Ratu Sireli Vesikula said yesterday that based on the figures a lot of work had to be done to avoid unneccessary delays.

He said filling the respective positions was the prerogative of the vanua.

He said that he would be calling a meeting for all chiefs in the province of Ba to remind them of their obligation to come up with names to fill up all the vacant positions.

He said the government machinery on development depended so much on the traditional leaders.

He said that unlike before, leadership in village settings today was crucial based on good governance, transparency and accountability.

Methodist church gives eviction notice

FBC News

Report by : Savaira Tabua - Monday, July 19, 2010

Tenants residing at a property owned by the Methodists Church in  Davuilevu  Housing  have been given an eviction notice effective from last week.

 

Methodist Church Assistant Secretary Tevita Nawadra told FBC news five families have been given 30 days notice to vacate a land they are about to develop.  

“The notice is usually for 30 days –if the notice is not being taken care of or if they do not agree with whatever has been given to them then we will move on to the next step  which is the Court Order – we will get a Court order to ensure the process of the law is being followed.”

 

However one of the tenants Hem Raj says they have been paying $20 a month in rent since 2007 to Ratu Loco of Navuso, Naitasiri.

Ratu Loco claims to be the rightful owner of the land the Methodist church wants to develop. 

Chief against church

Saturday, September 15, 2007

+ Enlarge this image

Reason to be upset ... Ratu Loco Qiolevu

NAITASIRI chief Ratu Loco Qiolevu says he will never forgive the Methodist Church in Fiji nor partake in their asking for forgiveness and land cleansing process because they are liars and thieves.

Speaking in Fijian, Ratu Loco said the church had been taking land which was not theirs and extending their boundaries over the past 30 years and it was time somebody told the truth.

He said there was an agreement made by his forefathers of Navuso Village and the church for them to give more than 300 acres of land for the church to build schools and a theological college at Davuilevu but the church had extended the boundaries and made the land theirs.

Also, they had renamed Davuilevu Housing which was suppose to be named Naiqiliso, so known by the traditional owners of the land, and allowed it to be sub-divided, which was wrong.

He said this was not right because he claimed that money was given to the church before the new Rewa Bridge was built and the money should have been given to the landowners because they are the rightful owners.

Ratu Loco said that as much as he respected the owner of the church which was the Lord, it was the people running the church who were corrupt and did not conduct fair and clean dealings on land issues with landowners.

He said the landowners have been silent and respectful and never questioned the church on what was happening but it was time for a change.

Yesterday, a delegation led by Naitasiri divisional superintendent Reverend Moape Tavakula visited Ratu Loco's residence at Tamavua to inform him about the cleansing process which would start at Navuso Village on Monday.

Mr Tavakula said as protocol, they had come to inform and invite him to be part of the process. Also, he was going to conduct the process for the villagers of Navuso and it was part of the circuit and division's spiritual program.

Mr Tavakula asked Ratu Loco to be part of the land cleansing because it was important for the villagers and it would benefit the younger generation who sometimes were burdened with the wrongdoings of the past and this was the only way to undo it. He said the cleansing process would start on Monday and there would be asking for forgiveness by the villagers and blessing of old traditional sites because sometimes there were wrongs done by ancestors that hindered the progress of younger generations.

Ratu Loco told them he would never be part of any cleansing unless the church first asked for forgiveness from the landowners and villagers of Navuso because of what they had done. He said this was basically why he had dismantled the 22 houses at the church-run Navuso students farm a few years ago and seized all the farm implements because he wanted the church to pay for what they took from the landowners.

He showed the delegation letters sent to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption Unit and the High Court on complaints against the church stealing land from the landowners.

He said it was about time someone went against the church and he did not have anything against the delegation but they needed to tell church president Reverend Laisiasa Ratabacaca what needed to be done. Ratu Loco said only and if the church admitted and asked for forgiveness from the landowners would be he able to forgive them for what they had done because it was the landowners whose land had been taken by the church.

Church general secretary, Reverend Ame Tugaue and assistant general secretary, Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu and FICAC deputy commissioner, George Langman could not be reached for a comment last night.

Landowners in bid to resolve dispute

Fiji Times - Friday, July 16, 2010

ONE of the landowning units embroiled in a dispute regarding the sand dunes in Sigatoka has revealed that all parties are working towards resolving the issue.

Aseri Kunawave, spokesman for Mataqali Navatanitawake in Cuvu, said sale of fine sand was expected to soon resume from the Sigatoka quarry as talks between all parties concerned had progressed.

"We are working together towards resolving our differences. Our main issue was the fact that middlemen were making money out of us. They were buying the sand for $15 per cubic metre and re-selling it at a larger price. What we have decided now is to have a pricing structure, which we are currently working out with NLTB and other industry stakeholders," he said.

Mr Kunawave said the landowners had now decided that all transactions would be carried out direct with project owners and would not involve middlemen.

"We want the people building to come direct to us-homeowners or building project developers, we have to remove middle men, because they have been stealing from us," he said.

The sale of fine sand from the dunes in Sigatoka was brought to a close in May this year by the NLTB because the extraction licence expired last October and no attempt was made for a renewal.

Landowners in bid to resolve dispute

Fiji Times - Friday, July 16, 2010

ONE of the landowning units embroiled in a dispute regarding the sand dunes in Sigatoka has revealed that all parties are working towards resolving the issue.

Aseri Kunawave, spokesman for Mataqali Navatanitawake in Cuvu, said sale of fine sand was expected to soon resume from the Sigatoka quarry as talks between all parties concerned had progressed.

"We are working together towards resolving our differences. Our main issue was the fact that middlemen were making money out of us. They were buying the sand for $15 per cubic metre and re-selling it at a larger price. What we have decided now is to have a pricing structure, which we are currently working out with NLTB and other industry stakeholders," he said.

Mr Kunawave said the landowners had now decided that all transactions would be carried out direct with project owners and would not involve middlemen.

"We want the people building to come direct to us-homeowners or building project developers, we have to remove middle men, because they have been stealing from us," he said.

The sale of fine sand from the dunes in Sigatoka was brought to a close in May this year by the NLTB because the extraction licence expired last October and no attempt was made for a renewal.

Wainunu dalo rakes in $thousands

by Theresa Ralogaivau

Fiji Times - Thursday, July 15, 2010

+ Enlarge this image

Elenava Veiyala with dalo from Wainunu on display at the Agriculture show in Labasa

INCREASING levels of dalo farming at Wainunu district in Bua which is fetching as much as $225,000 per month in returns was hailed at the northern agriculture show.

Big dalo crops from Wainunu were on show attracting public attention and admiration.

Area agricultural officer Jovesa Turagasau said the district was making a huge economic impact in the province.

"There is an increasing wave of farming like never before," Mr Turagasau said.

"There are five middlemen each buying on average 30 tonnes of dalo every month for export."

The department recently supplied another 24,000 dalo tops for cultivation.

All the eight villages in Wainunu are involved in farming.

Tui Wainunu Ratu Orisi Baleitavea said villagers were being encouraged to utilise the land with dalo and yaqona farming as marketing opportunities opened up.

"The middlemen buyers come right up to our doorstep and the returns farmers are getting is encouraging more levels of farming," he said. "Before the lack of a market was a challenge."