Land Disputes top Ba Chiefly Talks

by Sera Whippy

FIJI TIMES - Wednesday, October 27, 2010

LAND and title disputes are a major issue today for the country's largest province because it has divided families and brewed hatred in villages.

This finding, according to the Ba Provincial Council, is linked to money ù and the matter will be the subject of intense discussion today at the Bose ni Momo being held at Viseisei Village in Vuda.

Roko Tui Ba Vananalagi Vesikula said he was concerned about the trend.

He said discussions today would focus on ways to repair damaged relationships and reconciling affected parties.

He said that land and title disputes have been a prevalent problem in the province because of the link to money.

He said in most of the disputes, a lot of money was at stake.

With the assistance of the Native Lands Commission chairman, Ratu Viliame Tagivetaua, Mr Vesikula hopes to discuss this problem at length and to agree to a sustainable solution.

"A survey was conducted and we narrowed down on the main problems like land and title disputes which bring about a lot of hate and disunity within the villages," said Mr Vesikula.

"Many cases involve families fighting over titles or two tokatoka having a dispute over who is to become the title holder.

"All this stems down to the money issue.

"One such case that was quite unsettling was the Tui Vitogo case where the tribunal had to have two sittings in order to come to an agreement for all parties involved."

Mr Vesikula also emphasised the roles and responsibilities of chiefs.

"We will have short-term plans and long-term plans to aid us in successfully developing our land," said Mr Vesikula.

He hopes that this will be the beginning of an annual tradition where instead of having to discuss their issues for only a few hours at the annual provincial council, they will now have two days to discuss in detail their problems and find relevant solutions.

This will also act to strengthen links between the I-Taukei Affairs board and the Ba Province.

The chiefs' meeting ends today before they prepare for the opening of the Salusalu Festival tomorrow, to be hosted by Vuda this year.

More than 20 chiefs are attending the meeting which is focused on the promotion of good governance, traditional culture conservation, village by-laws, reconciliation and the role of the church in villages.

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Witchcraft Warning

Sai's Comment:

• This story depicts some of the practices that form part of living in a village. I grew up in my village learning about the existence of witchcraft and those identified to be practising it would often be ridiculed and abused. It is a past practice in my country of Fiji associated with our traditional gods before the arrival of Christianity in 1835.

  
  
• The article below indicates the persistence of the practice in modern day Fiji, especially in villages. In this article, my High Chief is clearly wanting its eradication from village life to ensure people can get on with daily life without the curse from the effects of witchcraft hindering their progress. It is also contrary to the active and widespread practice of Christian worship in my village and province in Fiji. I am therefore fully supportive of the call by my high chief.

FIJI SUN NEWS - 21 October 2010

A paramount chief wants people practising witchcraft in his province to be identified.Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu yesterday said it’s time to publicly expose devil worshippers.

“I want people to know which part of Cakaudrove these people come from,” Ratu Naiqama said. He said people practising witchcraft had painted a very bad picture about the province. “This is a major concern to us and it should be taken seriously. “The people need to know the number of people practising witchcraft in the province and the villages they come from.” Ratu Naiqama said Cakaudrove would not be blessed by God, if people continue to worship the devil.

The outbursts came after concerns were raised during the Cakaudrove Provincial Council meeting at Somosomo, Taveuni yesterday. Council chairman Emitai Boladuadua has urged the people to refrain from this evil practise. Mr Boladuadua said whoever was found practicing witchcraft should be stopped because it has a huge negative impact on people’s commitment towards nation building.

He said there was a great need for the people to work together and create an atmosphere that would be safe for the children and the people of Cakaudrove. 

A representative from Tunuloa, Samuela Qolikoro said the province would not succeed in terms of developments if they allow people practising witchcraft to live among them. He said people who practice witchcraft do exist in the province and everyone should work together to stop it. “People will not be blessed if they continue this practice. Not only that our land and efforts to succeed will be cursed.” Mr Qolikoro said.

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Ex-president attacks Methodist church leadership

FBC News - 19 October 2010
Report by : Savaira Tabua

Former Methodist Church President Reverend Josateki Koroi has attacked the current church leadership for lacking vision and failing to develop effective plans for the future. 

In a sermon at Davuilevu last Sunday Reverend Koroi called on church members to look into the church vision and direction, and the way it is collecting and spending money. 

He pointed to the decision by the church to collect $600,000 for the upgrade of Baker Hall in Davuilevu as sign of the lack of vision and inability of church leaders to develop future plans. 

Reverend Koroi says there were many church elders and talatalas driving around in 4 wheel drive Pajeros worth hundreds of thousands of dollars – and asked what was the vision they had for the church – and what foundations they were laying for the future. 

Rev Koroi says taking money from church members will only make them suffer. 

He says a vision was required to ensure the effective management of church affairs.

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NLTB targets debtors

FBC News - Monday, October 18, 2010

Taken from / By: FBC News

The Native Land Trust Board is now taking people who owe the institution lease money to court.

NLTB General Manager Alipate Qetaki says they have written to their debtors urging them to come forward and make their payment – and now moving to the second step in their bid to collect their money. 

In January 2010 NLTB was owed $25 million in arrears but a intensive collection effort has seen them reduce the amount to $18.7m. 

Qetaki says they have filed 930 cases worth $2.6m to be heard in the Magistrate Court and 625 cases worth $687,700 to be heard at the Small Claims Tribunal.

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What it Means to be Fijian

In touch with his Fiji roots

* adopted from Sydney Morning Herald - Monday, October 18, 2010

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PETERO CIVONICEVA

PETERO CIVONICEVA is a Maroons and Kangaroos hero, but as he prepares to represent Australia at the Four Nations tournament, he knows just how much his success means to people in his native Fiji.

Civoniceva was born in the capital, Suva, but when he was young his parents moved to Brisbane after his father was made an offer to play rugby.

However, Civoniceva still has family in Fiji and regularly sends back money to help out the community.

"I send money back home to my family about once a month and then, through them, things get done," the Panthers prop reveals.

"My grandmother is very prominent in her local church and she does a lot of things with the money I send.

"I don't have a direct hand in what gets done with the money. I just know that it gets used well.

"'A lot of people have come to Australia from other countries to try to make a life for themselves and I think in the back of my mind there's always a sense of gratitude that I've been lucky enough to come to this country.

"I've been very fortunate. Australia has provided so many wonderful, unbelievable opportunities for me and my family.

"I don't think there's a day that goes by that I don't feel some sense of how lucky I am. Through the success that I've had here I have the chance to give back and this is my way of helping my family back home."

There has been a strong Polynesian influence at the Panthers for some time and the players regularly put together shipments of playing gear and equipment which they send to South Pacific communities or local charities.

"It's a good thing we've got going at our club," Civoniceva says.

"A lot of the guys who come from the islands send stuff back to their families to help out. Frank Puletua sends stuff back quite often.

"You'll find that a lot of the boys from Polynesian backgrounds try to do a bit to help out. The rest of the team is great like that, too.

"I try to do as much as I can, put things together and send money back home and put little packages of football boots, shoes and clothes from the boys. All those things help.

"We have a bit of a get together here when we get all our gear from home that we don't need any more and pool it together and give it to Aboriginal communities or other people who could do with it.

"Each couple of months now we pick out a different charity or destination to send out stuff to. It might be to Fiji, or Samoa, or maybe Tonga."

Whenever Civoniceva plays, he has in the back of his mind the knowledge that he's making people happy in Fiji. ''I think they get a lot of pride from watching guys like Lote Tuqiri, Jarryd Hayne or a Wes Naiqama playing well," he said. ''The standards of living aren't the best in Fiji. It's amazing that it doesn't faze them too much, they are still the most beautiful people you could meet."

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T-shirt ban on women on Nabukadogo Village

by Serafina Silaitoga

Fiji Times - Friday, October 15, 2010

Nabukadogo Village headman Peni Vusoni (second row from the front, third from right) with the village youths at their soli last week. Picture: SERAFINA QALO

A VILLAGE by-law in the Northern Division has banned women from wearing T-shirts in the village but has allowed men to drink yaqona until 11pm.

The women of Nabukadogo in Macuata have also been instructed to wear sulu-i-ra at all times ùwhether inside the home or outside ù while the children have been placed on a 6pm curfew.

Headman Peni Vusoni said the by-law was discussed at a meeting two weeks ago where the villagers agreed to the changes. To ensure the by-law is upheld, the village has appointed 10 wardens who will work day and night.

Mr Vusoni said respect for the village must be reinforced and that the by-laws had brought about good changes in the past two weeks, especially with the men waking up early to attend to their farms and other duties.

He said yaqona sessions in the village would now end by 11pm, after which all villagers must remain indoors. This rule, he said, would not be relaxed for funerals or traditional functions.

At 6pm, all children are to be seated in their homes doing their homework and village wardens will visit each and every home to check on them.

Mr Vusoni said the 6pm curfew would help the students live a disciplined life and improve their academic performance.

He said children were not allowed to leave their houses unless in case of an emergency or to attend church. For trips taken outside the village, Mr Vusoni said the villagers were asked to inform the wardens, especially if they expcted to return after 11pm.

For women who go out fishing, he said they could take off their sulu-i-ra but they must put them back on again when they returned to the village.

Youths of Nabukadogo take charge

Serafina Silaitoga
Tuesday, October 12, 2010

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Nabukadogo youths present their soli at the shed (top) yesterday as they attempt to take on more responsibility, fundraising and the work around the village

REALISING the importance of their role towards village development, the Nabukadogo youth club yesterday opened their new fund pool to help finance village projects.

The Macuata youngsters organised a youth soli in the village where their parents, village elders, traditional leaders and friends were invited to help fundraise for their first project.

Youth group adviser Ilisoni Dovibau said the youth group started again a month ago after a two-year lapse.

"We have a village youth group but it became defunct," he said.

"About a month ago, we met and agreed that our youth group should be formed so we can contribute towards village development. Youths play a major role in any village so we want to start training our youths to become responsible adults making wise decisions for themselves."

Mr Dovibau said the first project already discussed was a village shop run and managed by the youth group.

"This first soli will go towards our pool of money which will be only used to finance village projects like the shop, which is our first project.

"There is a house in the village which has not been used so we will turn that into a shop and we have already informed our village elders and parents about it," Mr Dovibau said.

At the soli, youths asked for their parents' and the vanua support as they set their eyes on a better future for the people of Nabukadogo.

Mr Dovibau said other plans have been lined up for next year, all aimed at encouraging youths to take the lead role in village developments.

"Our elders can only do much so we have to train our youths to play the lead role as they will become leaders."

EasyTel has made a difference in our lives - Turaga ni Koro, Nabukadogo

16 February, Suva, Fiji Islands – Telecom Fiji’s Easytel system has recently been introduced to the Northern Division, making telecommunication services more accessible to rural dwellers. The EasyTel base station has been set-up in Delaikoro in Labasa – with a reach covering the following areas in the North: Labasa Town, Wailevu, Doguru, Vunimoli, Tuatua, Korowiri, Nabekavu, Vunika, Nabalebale (Savusavu), Seaqaqa Town, Batiri, Savusavu Town, Wainikoro area and Namalata, Bua. Turaga ni Koro, Manoa Valeniyasana    To date Telecom Fiji has installed twenty-eight (28) villages in the Northern division with the EasyTel service, including Nabukadogo outside Labasa. Installed in November 2003, the EasyTel service has been very well received by the people of Nabukadogo, which has greatly enhanced daily life in the village.  Nabukadogo EasyTel House Turaga-ni-Koro Nabukadogo, Manoa Valeniyasana says, “We are very happy to finally have telephone service in the village, and since the service was provided it has made a great difference to our lives; it is very helpful and convenient and enables us to be in contact with family and friends from nearby towns and in other parts of Fiji.” Nabukadogo EasyTel House   The telephone has also assisted some of the villagers with their fishing business. “We save a great deal of time and money now. Organising collection of our fish to sell in Seaqaqa or Labasa is now only a phone call away, where previously we would have to send a message or arrange for transport ourselves, which was time consuming and would sometimes cost more money,” said Mr. Valeniyasana. “There’s now a lot of potential for our people to improve or start up business because of the accessibility and convenience of having telephone service. Mr. Valeniyasana’s comments were fully supported by the Liuliu ni Yavusa Namoli, Vilimone Dovibua, who said that he was very thankful to Telecom Fiji for providing their village with telephone service. “It is a great relief to us to have telephone service which makes life so much easier for us now. For instance, when someone is sick we used to have to send children to fetch transport to go to Labasa or Seaqaqa. Now with a telephone, we simply make a phone call for transport or an ambulance to take the sickly to the hospital or nearby health centre”, Mr. Dovibua said. The expansion of the EasyTel service to the North reaffirms Telecom Fiji’s commitment to continually develop and enhance its network, especially in the rural areas. EasyTel is Telecom Fiji’s wireless telephone service that is delivered by the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology and is a system that will assist Telecom Fiji achieve its goal of greater telephone penetration into rural areas. This wireless technology allows customers to get connected to the Telecom Fiji network even if they are in areas without telephone cables or where cables are exhausted. The only requirement for customers is a regular power supply. “The essence of CDMA technology is that customers can have access to telecom services without having to connect through a telephone cable,” explained Salote Uluinaceva, Telecom Fiji’s Manager Corporate Communications. “The service will stimulate the flow of information into and from rural communities,” she added. The northern EasyTel system cost around $700,000 and in addition Telecom Fiji is planning to install three CDMA repeaters in the northern region to improve signals to low signal areas. TFL has also made a commitment to provide telephone services in all villages in the Bua province this year. This will include the modernisation of the Dreketi, Rabi and Tukavesi exchanges. The rural telephone penetration programme in the north also include settlement and villages in Macuata and Cakaudrove who have not been given any services or are still using the old manual system. All rural telecommunication services will be on prepaid facilities. Click on links to discover: From Village to City                VodaHost  Affiliate           HOLIDAY IN FIJI For further information, please contact: Salote Uluinaceva Manager Corporate Communications Tel: 321 0486 Fax: 330 5595 Email: salote.uluinaceva@tfl.com.fj

Newly-Installed Vunivalu of Natewa says Forgive and Forget

Forgive and forget: Chief

Serafina Silaitoga

Fiji Times - Saturday, October 09, 2010

THE newly-installed Vunivalu of Natewa, Ratu Amenatape Belo, yesterday urged his people to reconcile, put the past behind and work together towards a successful future.

The district of Natewa began a new chapter yesterday as they installed a Vunivalu after 35 years.

Ratu Amenatape's father, Ratu Ropate Rakuita, was the last Vunivalu traditionally installed by the people of Natewa in 1974.

According to family members, the chiefs who led Natewa after the death of Ratu Ropate were not traditionally installed.

The villagers packed Natewa Village grounds to witness the installation.

Ratu Amenatape told his people he would work with them to ensure a good future for the younger generation.

He said forgiveness needed to happen to help pave the way forward for the district.

In their presentation to their chief, the people asked him to always seek God's guidance, saying that without God, nothing was possible.

The 11 villages in the district spent months preparing for the traditional ceremony.

Traditional warriors surrounded the village boundary, ensuring that no one moved around during the ceremony.

Ratu Amenatape Belo is married with five children.

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