Friday, August 25, 2006

Rat in the Kitchen.

The abuse of chiefly influence is among the wedge issues that will bring back the shades of the 2000 coup in Fiji.

Fiji Sun article reports that there is gross discontent among the populace of Naitasiri in the recent actions of Native Lands Trust Board. The news signals that the perpetuating rot in native Fijian institutions is affecting other areas in Fiji and will inevitably be a stumbling block to the forward momentum.

The Hotel development at Natadola is another demonstration of malice and dishonesty used by N.L.T.B to mis-appropriate native lands.

Unfortunately these reports will continue surface in the media until a major overhaul is undertaken by the whole system of Fijian Affairs. To simply, change colours and ignore these concerns will undermine the development and progress of Fiji as a nation.

Another landowner group is seeking a legal injunction to halt the construction of Natadola Holding's hotel complex in Fiji. Recently there have been a drastic increase in the numbers of frustrated native landowners who have publicly declared their dissatisfaction with Native Lands Trust Board's operations and the administration of native lands.

read more | digg story


Clan seeks land stop-work order

Saturday, August 26, 2006


A CLAN has applied for an injunction to stop the construction of a nursery on a piece of land that it claims was illegally leased by the Native Land Trust Board.

Members of the Tokatoka Nakabasi allege that NLTB and Natadola Holdings Limited failed to honour an agreement made with members last year.

The writ was filed in the High Court in Lautoka on Thursday by the clan led by Tui Nahoni, Ratu Apenisa Cokanauto Rorovanua Rakuro, Ratu Timoci Volavola, Ratu Tevita Korodrau and Ratu Viliame Uqeuqevanua Ralulu.

The statement of claim alleged that NLTB sought a piece of land owned by the Tokatoka Nakabasi of Naveisabasaba Village in Nadroga and allegedly promised to pay members a premium of $50,000. It is alleged that when it was found that Tui Nahoni owned the piece of land in question, NLTB sought to secure a lease for the 20 acre piece of land.

The land known as Vile, on which Natadola Holdings is building a nursery, was the only piece of land on which Tokatoka members used to plant crops and vegetables for their sustenance.

The plaintiffs allege that 11 of the 26 signatures on the purported document of consent were forged. [Plantiffs] claim that the consent was not sought from the members of the Tokatoka, especially the Tui Nahoni.

The writ was also filed on the grounds that under Section 9 of the Native Land Trust Act, native reserve land cannot be leased unless it was de-reserved.

Most interestingly is the level of cognitive dissonance among native Fijians that has crystalized to dramatic proportions and has sent shockwaves throughout the entire system of native institutions.

For too long the influence of Fijian chiefs have been hijacked by elements of danger with greedy intentions.
Our chief is not for sale

Leave jailed Qaranivalu alone, elder warns

By CHEERIEANN WILSON


Stop using our jailed chief for your own business interest, a chiefly elder warned yesterday. And he wants the Government to stop such people from visiting his chief in prison. A chiefly elder of the Qaranivalu, Maika Morovia, said the Government had enjoyed the support of Ratu Inoke Takiveikata while his people continued to suffer.

Mr Morovia said the actions taken by millionaire Ballu Khan and Native Land Trust Board general manager Kalivati Bakani were a breach of traditional protocol and principles and were signs of disrespect for the Fijian people and, in particular, the people of Naitasiri.

“Who are these people?” said Mr Morovia.“They are in no way related to my paramount chief. They don’t even have a traditional role or status to allow them to speak to him. They should respect Fijian protocol, especially the way people of Naitasiri respect their chief.

“Bakani, being a Fijian, should have some manners. Our chief is there serving his term in prison and I believe he has had enough of the sufferings and heart-aches that he has gone through along with his family.“Ballu Khan and Bakani again want to engage my chief’s support and no one knows they might crucify him again if he fails to live up to their agreements.

The chiefly family and Naitasiri are not in a position to foot any further legal bills.“Ballu Khan is a millionaire and is engaging chiefly Fijian support to raise his business undertakings to new heights.“If he wants a business licence from the Government than he should be made to follow the normal procedure that all businessmen go through.

It is now clear that certain people are accommodated in special ways because they are already millionaires.“Ratu Inoke is not the Minister of Finance or a bank manager. Khan is using my chief’s support for his personal gain. What Khan and Bakani have done is an insult.

“They will ruin money lending institutions, the NLTB and the traditional Fijian protocol system. Authorities concerned should step in and stop them.”Calls made to Ballu Khan were not answered last night.

Ratu Inoke’s former wife, Vilisi Takiveikata, told the Fiji Sun that millionaire Ballu Khan and Native Land Trust Board general manager Kalivati Bakani, representatives of Pacifc Connex, had used Ratu Inoke as a rubber stamp so they could obtain a licence from the Government to launch a mobile phone business.

“Ratu is in prison and yet these people are still using his influence on the Prime Minister to get what they want,” she said.“If they really care about Ratu they should be lobbying for his freedom. Instead they are using him to get their millions while Ratu and his family suffer in silence.”


Here is a selected Letter to Fiji Times Editor on the news of Ba Holdings.

Digicel and Ba

I WRITE to express my disappointment at the way Tevita Momoedonu of Vuda is trying to influence the Ba Provincial Council to get rid of Digicel.

Mr Momoedonu has the gall to say there will be bloodshed if Digicel continues to operate. For goodness sake, I thought we were in the 21st Century and that bloodshed or talk of it was a thing of the past.

I thought the vanua of Vuda was ahead in development, thinking and education.

Having their chief to be the President, one of their sons an ambassador and Cabinet minister, that Mr Momoedonu's disgraceful comments would not see the light of day.

The words are appaling, contemptible, despicable, vile and loathsome to be coming from the mouth of a so-called chief.

How could a former ambassador and minister utter foolish and poor statements as that? How can a person of his stature stoop so low and mislead chiefs to sign a letter to the President to get rid of Digicel?

As aperson from Ba I am dismayed at how the provincial council is being hijacked. I urge chiefs to think twice about supporting Mr Momoedonu.

I am urging chiefs in my vanua o Nadi not to be swayed by the likes of Mr Momoedonu.

Taniela Lesu
Australia


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