Showing posts with label Fijian Affairs Board. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fijian Affairs Board. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Fiji's Giant Leap Forward- A Threat To The Elite Minority?

Differing views on the matter of Fijian Affairs Department and its impact on the lifestyles of native commoners. One such view was detailed in a Letter to Fiji Sun Editor.


Fijian progress

Last updated 11/28/2007 8:21:17 AM

It is important to have a clear view of Mahendra Chaudhry’s perceptions (FS 26/11) relating to the position of the Fijian people given that he wields a lot of power in the interim government.

This is because I think his thinking that compartmentalisation is delaying Fijian progress” needs to be debated widely because it has been proved over time to be quite untrue. I also think that the rest of the community are largely no better than the Fijian community itself given the fairly advanced civilisation from which they all emanate.

In fact I think the giant forward steps that the Fijian people have achieved in the 133 years since when Fiji was ceded to Great Britain are so large that it is quite frightening. Even more so is the progress we have achieved can only be viewed as “a steep climb” in a proverbial progress graph.

Now, tamper that with the fact that the Fijian people are poised to reach the million mark in their numbers in several years from today. Yes we have progressed, and how much of that progress can be attributed to what Mr Chaudhry sees as “compartmentalisation” is interesting.

In fact the use of that term misleads somewhat because in reality what has happened can be better described as “incubation”. And let us face it, it has paid off handsomely for a race of people who needed to catch up in a modern world that is galloping faster today than it did yesterday and even more so tomorrow.

Perhaps Mr Chaudhry is questioning the rate of that progress. So the question we would have to address is how much faster really could the Fijian people grow, without destroying the fabric of their own society?


While it is relatively easy for Naigulevu to point fingers at the Interim Minister for Finance regarding the policy, much can be said of the reluctance of some elite Fijians to remove the yoke of oppression and compartmentalization which has served Naigulevu and people of his ilk quite well.

Although, Naigulveu claims the compartmentalization is in fact a period of "incubation"; begging the question, of the need for an unending incubation period. If a segment of the population is perpetually in incubation, it ceases to become a cocoon of protection, but lingers dangerously as an incinerator for aspirations. A death sentence to the native commoner's hope for social mobility

Another correspondence also commends the initiative of removing vestiges of colonialism, which Fijian Affairs Board is an icon of. The letter to the Fiji Daily Post Editor outlines those points:

Downgrading ministry
28-Nov-2007

Sir,

WHILE we are all concerned about such move, we should remain positive that the change will bring about the desired benefits and peace among the Fijian community.

Let’s hope that the Interim Government will explain in details as to why such action has been made and its benefit to the Indigenous people. There is nothing to be worried about.

Laisenia Qarase’s brainwashing tactics has a purpose and that is to incite uncertainty in the hearts of the indigenous Fijians especially in giving “half-cooked” information to the people at village grassroots level. Don’t allow this good initiative by the Interim Government to shake us. Dialogue is the way to solve sensitive issues that affect the Fijian people.

The Interim Government has a combination of people who do feel for the heartaches, struggles and difficulties we encounter.

They are trying to build on from what we currently have. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet are mere people whom we can easily talk to and ask for an explanation for the unexpected downgrading of the Fijian Affairs Ministry to Department of Indigenous Affairs. Certainly, the Fijian Affairs Act is still there and it cannot be removed or amended without our consent. Also, it is believed that all institutions remain intact.

Let’s all pray for the indigenous community as we may have felt sad from the surprising news. It will definitely take time for us to understand what’s happening and where we are going. Definitely we are going through “self-help” direction where there will be no more “spoon-feeding”.


Maika Moroca
Fiji Labour Party(Secretary-Fijian Wing)



An article published in the Fiji Sun, questions the need for handouts for indigenous Fijians; which indirectly creates a dependency mentality and undermines the native commoner in seeking a new destiny in the era of IT, cellphones and Supercomputers.

Don’t depend on hand outs: Fijians told
Last updated 11/28/2007 8:13:53 AM

A former politician believes indigenous Fijians should learn how to be more self-reliant and not to depend so much on hand outs.

Former Party of National Unity member and Labour minister, Meli Bogileka said it would make a lot of difference if indigenous Fijians were encouraged to set up their own businesses which could start from selling vegetables to running a tourist driven business.

"We are all proud of being called indigenous Fijians because we are indigenous on this land but we have to also adjust ourselves to changes that are happening around us," he said. "For example technology is changing very fast."

Mr Bogileka said there was no reason to panic because more people were alarmed by the change in name of the Ministry of Fijian affairs to the Department of Provincial Development and Indigenous and Multiethnic Affairs.

"If it can bring about good changes to the indigenous Fijians than it should be encouraged but there is no reason to panic," said Mr Bogileka.
"I believe the old system used will still be the same and the rights of the indigenous people will be intact."

The country had been through 35 years under Fijian-government rule and questions should be asked whether the indigenous Fijians had benefited from it or still lived as one of the poorest people in the country.

Mr Bogileka said one industry to be encouraged for indigenous people is the tourism industry because they are naturally gifted for that. The hospitality, smile and friendliness was already there and there was no need to politicize things and be self pitying.


Fiji Times Editorial of Monday November 26th 2007, regarding the issue of relegating the Ministry of Fijian Affairs to Department status; may be an opinion well entrenched and intertwined with a premise flaunted by the SDL party:

"Many Fijians will see the downgrading of their ministry as a reflection of how the interim Government perceives the indigenous community and their concerns, interests and rights. And, by extension, it will also reaffirm their belief and suspicions of the interim Government's opinion of the Great Council of Chiefs.

It will also reaffirm the suspicions of many indigenous Fijians that this coup is supported by non-Fijians and aims to water down the powers and interests of their community".


Although, the issue of downgrading of status may be a concern from some indigenous quarters; it trivializes an interesting precedent for the nation as a whole, called 'the greater good'.

This is the entire excerpt of the Fiji Time Editorial:

Indigenous affairs

FT EDITORIAL COMMENT
Monday, November 26, 2007

THE downgrading of the Ministry of Fijian Affairs to a department will not go down well with the indigenous community. Already we are beginning to see signs of Fijian chiefs and individuals stirring and murmuring against the interim Government's decision to convert the Ministry of Fijian Affairs to the Department of Indigenous Affairs, Provincial Development and Multi-Ethnic Affairs.

This department, under the portfolio of the Prime Minister, will most likely have a State minister and will cover the affairs of the indigenous people as well as the Indians, part Europeans and everyone else who falls under the multi-ethnic banner.

Many Fijians will see the downgrading of their ministry as a reflection of how the interim Government perceives the indigenous community and their concerns, interests and rights.

And, by extension, it will also reaffirm their belief and suspicions of the interim Government's opinion of the Great Council of Chiefs. It will also reaffirm the suspicions of many indigenous Fijians that this coup is supported by non-Fijians and aims to water down the powers and interests of their community.

Since December 5, 2006, indigenous affairs have been subjected to a whirlwind of change starting from the top the council of chiefs going all the way down to land.
The GCC was suspended by the interim PM after the chiefs refused to endorse the President's choice with the blessing of Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama for Vice-President.

Like an errant child, the council was punished with a review commissioned by the ministry to look into functions and its membership.

And the changes haven't ended there. As announced in the 2008 Budget, the Ministry of Lands will receive a mandate from the People's Charter to conduct land reforms including a review of ALTA.

As the leader of the interim Government, Commodore Bainimarama needs to explain why he downgraded the Ministry of Fijian Affairs to a department. While his motives appear unclear at that stage, he owes the people, especially the indigenous community, an explanation.

He must also be prepared to face the backlash of his decision and there will be backlash from individuals, provincial councils and chiefs and he should not ignore the concerns of the indigenous community.

They deserve to know why.

It is also concerning that, the Fiji Times Editor actively preys on the fears of the indigenous community as seen during the pre-2000 coup days. An independent analysis of the Fiji Times reportage before the 2000 coup confirms this.

It is somewhat disingenuous for the publication not to balance the editorial with the justifications of not having a separate Ministry for Fijian Affairs or even raise factual examples and outline how the Ministry of Fijian Affairs have failed the indigenous community on many levels and on many occasions.

Nor does the Fiji Times Editorial even factor in the gross and willful incompetence of the Ministry of Fijian Affairs and their culpability of not facilitating audits for the accounts from the various Provincial Councils, in decades. The issue of FAB audits were addressed in an earlier S.i.F.M post titled "Few and Far Between".

One of the biggest omissions was the analyzing exactly, what will the indigenous grassroots derive from the status quo.

The editorial further inquires erroneously of the motives of the Interim Government:
"As the leader of the interim Government, Commodore Bainimarama needs to explain why he downgraded the Ministry of Fijian Affairs to a department.

While his motives appear unclear at that stage, he owes the people, especially the indigenous community, an explanation."


For a person not well informed with Fiji politics but pretends to be, should not belittle themselves any longer, by believing in Qarase's self-aggrandizement.

To suggest or think that the Fiji Times Editorial was an altruistic or a benevolent defence over the Ministry of Fijian Affairs issue, simply due to their moral and holier-than-thou position would be a gullible reaction at worst.
At best: acknowledging that the only time Fiji Times profit increases is, by the sensationalism done in over magnifying divisive issues that intends to separate and divide segments; rather than amplify the common threads of society that binds people.

It seems rather juvenile for the Fiji Times to ignore the radical paradigm shift announced by the Interim Prime Minister, regarding the clean up of colonial era, native Fijian institutions, which have been extorting the livelihood of the native commoner under the guise of Fijian culture.

Fiji Times seems to go out of their way to quote the xenophobic SDL party and their point guard Laisenia Qarase. Yet, the Fiji Times have also demonstrated their pathetic and inadequate initiative to decipher Qarase's rhetoric/ lip service that have left the common native perpetually enslaved within a fiefdom, constantly bombarded with ingrained fears and warnings alluding that, foreigners will invade and pillage their land. A synonym for the 'fortress mentality', elongating the social slavery of the common native of Fiji.

Laisenia Qarase vigorously defends the Ministry of Fijian Affairs status quo:
"Mr Qarase said indigenous Fijians were not ready to stand on a level playing field with other races and needed to be treated as separate and distinct in identity.

“I don't think the Fijian people are ready for that independence. I think the Fijian people are proud of their culture and traditions and their institutions,” he said.


What facts does Qarase base his opinions on? Does he speak for all native Fijians? Was there an accurate opinion poll which Qarase was referring to, or is this more of an opinion rather than fact?

Mr Qarase also hit out at interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry for removing the tax free status of the Fijian Trust Fund. He said the FTF was established to fund the operations of the Great Council of Chiefs and other activities for the general good of indigenous people.

He said the village, tikina, provincial councils along with the Fijian Affairs Board, Native Land Trust Board and GCC were part of the “Fijian psyche”.

“I think it would be a sad day if Fijian thinking moves away from that position because I'm very proud of being a Fijian. I want a separate identity for Fijians,” said Mr Qarase.

“We are an ethnic group different from other ethnic entities and all ethnic entities are proud of their identities,” he said."


What Qarase's rhetoric fails to address is, detailing exactly how much monetary rewards are actually reaching the lowest common denominator; which he claims are the benefactors of the Fijian Trust Fund?

Clearly, the "Fijian Psyche" is the actual cream from this Trust Fund that, had been funneled into exuberant projects like the new Great Council of Chiefs complex, financed along with state loans that were subsequently converted mysteriously to grants. This grant has also been questioned by the Interim Prime Minister, in an article in Fiji Village.

Bainimarama Questions $20M Grant
Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama has today clarified that the tax benefits have been taken away from the Fijian Holdings Unit Trust and the Fijian Trust Fund in the 2008 budget because only the elite Fijians have been benefitting from these institutions for years.

Bainimarama has rejected suggestions by terminated Great Council of Chiefs Chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini that this decision will affect the handing out of scholarships.

He said a transparent process will always be followed for the scholarship awards but his main concern is the Laisenia Qarase government's decision a few years ago to convert the $20 million loan to a grant for the shares bought in Fijian Holdings.
Bainimarama said the $20 million which was not paid back was taxpayer’s money and the ordinary Fijians did not benefit from that decision.

He also questions Ratu Ovini on the personal loans that were given out to certain individuals through the FAB.


This conversion (under the Deuba Accord 2000)was made under Qarase's 2001 Interim administration that, failed to relinquish the reins of power to the 1999 elected People's Coalition; an act which Qarase now demands from the 2007 Interim Fiji Government. An article published in 2001, outlines this dichotomy in the 20 million grant.

The excerpt of the article:

FIJIAN HOLDINGS LTD: WHY AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY IS NEEDED, AND THE ROLE OF THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK IN FINANCING SHARES IN FIJIAN HOLDING?

ON THE 13TH JULY 2000 THE INTERIM PRIME MINISTER MR LAISENIA QARASE PRESENTED TO THE GREAT COUNCIL OF CHIEFS A BLUEPRINT FOR THE PROTECTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF INDIGENOUS FIJIANS AND ROTUMANS.

THE BLUEPRINT INCLUDED A DECISION TO CONVERT THE $20 MILLION INTEREST-FREE LOAN TO THE FIJIAN AFFAIRS BOARD TO A GOVERNMENT GRANT ON THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS;

1. TRANSFER OF $1 MILLION 'B' CLASS SHARES HELD BY THE FAB IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS LIMITED TO EACH OF THE 14 PROVINCES. 2. BALANCE OF $6 MILLION TO REMAIN WITH FAB [AS EQUITY IN FHL]

FIJIAN HOLDINGS WAS PRIMARILY CREATED TO INCREASE EQUITY PARTICIPATION BY THE PROVINCIAL COUNCILS AND FIJIAN INSTITUTIONS IN SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES. THE $20 MILLION GOVERNMENT LOAN, ANNOUNCED IN THE DEUBA ACCORD IN 1987, WAS INTENDED BY THE COUNCIL OF CHIEFS TO BOOST THE OWNERSHIP OF THE 14 PROVINCES IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS.

IT WAS STATED IN THE SENATE IN 1993 THAT ACCORDING TO THE 1992 ANNUAL REPORT OF FIJIAN HOLDINGS, FIJIAN HOLDINGS WAS DOMINATED BY LIMITED LIABILTY COMPANIES OWNED BY GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS WHICH HELD BY SIMPLE PROPORTIONING 70 PER CENT OF FIJIAN HOLDINGS WHILE THE 14 LPROVINCIAL COUNCILS AND THE NATIVE LAND TRUST BOARD AND FIJIAN AFFAIRS BOARD HELD 30 PER CENT.

IT WAS ALSO STATED IN THE SENATE IN 1993 THAT WHILE 1 PROVINCIAL COUNCIL'S SHARE IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS WAS $50,100 THREE FAMILY PRIVATE COMPANIES IDENTIFIED WITH THAT PROVINCE HELD A TOTAL OF $450,000 SHARES.

IN 1984 THERE WERE NO PRIVATE COMPANIES IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS BY JUNE 1992 THERE WERE 27 PRIVATE COMPANIES.

IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES THERSE PRIVATE COMPANIES WERE ABLE TO SECURE FINANCE TO BUY THE SHARES FROM THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK. SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY OWNED COMPANIES WHICH OWNED SHARES IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS WERE NAMED IN THE SENATE IN 1993. THEY INCLUDED MR LAISENIA QARASE WHOSE FAMILY COMPANY Q-TEN INVESTMENTS LIMITED OWNED 200,000 SHARES, AND MR SITIVENI WELEILAKEBA WHOSE FAMILY COMPANY STIKS INVESTMENT LIMITED OWNED 150,000 SHARES. THESE TWO NAMES WERE HIGHLIGHTED BECAUSE AT THE TIME MR QARASE WAS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF FIJIAN HOLDINGS, AND FINANCIAL ADVISER TO THE FIJIAN AFFAIRS BOARD MR WELEILAKEBA WAS APPOINTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER IN 1991.

THE 1998/9 ANNUAL REPORT OF FIJIAN HOLDINGS DISCLOSES THAT MR WELEILAKEBA'S FAMILY COMPANY OWNS 10,000 SHARES AND THAT IN 1998 THE COMPANY HELD 100,000 SHARES. ATTEMPTS TO VERIFY DETAILS OF THE OWNERSHIP OF Q-TEN INVESTMENTS, STIKS INVESTMENTS AND STIKS HOLDINGS AT THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE OFFICE HAS BEEN INSTRUCTED NOT TO REVEAL THE DETAILS UNLESS A REQUEST IS MADE IN WRITING STATING THE PURPOSE OF THE ENQUIRY. INFORMATION ABOUT REGISTERED COMPANIES IS NORMALLY READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

QUESTIONS

1. WHY WERE PRIVATE COMPANIES ALLOWED TO BUY SHARES IN EXCESS OF THE SHARES HELD BY THE PROVINCIAL COUNCILS?

2. WHY WAS THE FAMILY COMPANIES OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK ALLOWED TO BUY SHARES IN EXCESS OF THOSE HELD BY THE PROVINCIAL COUNCILS?

3. WHAT ADVICE DID MR QARASE GIVE THE FIJIAN AFFAIRS BOARD ON THE ALLOCATION OF SHARES TO PRIVATE COMPANIES?

4. WHEN THE COUNCIL OF CHIEFS APPROVE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY COMPANIES BUYING SHARES?

THIS PATTERN OF PRIVATE COMPANY OWNERSHIP CONTINUES TODAY. FAMILY COMPANIES OWN MORE THAN 2.2 MILLION SHARES IN FHL. THE PROVINCIAL COUNCILS OWN 1.9 MILLION [MASTER LIST OF SHAREHOLDERS DATED SEPT 1998] IN THE FHL'S TOP TWENTY LIST OF SHAREHOLDERS OF FIJIAN HOLDINGS DATED 31ST JANUARY 2000 ONLY FOUR PROVINCIAL COUNCILS OWN MORE THAN 100,000 CLASS 'A' SHARES.

THE TOP TWENTY SHAREHOLDERS

UNDER STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING RULES FIJIAN HOLDINGS ARE OBLIGED TO PROVIDE TO THE EXCHANGE A LIST OF THE TOP TWENTY SHAREHOLDERS. THERE APPEAR TO BE SOME DISCREPANCIES IN THE LIST PROVIDED BY FHL.

ACCORDING TO THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES TWO OF THE COMPANIES ON THE LIST NO LONGER EXIST. THEY ARE CICIA PLANTATION CO-OP SOC. LTD AND VATULELE ISLAND HOLDINGS LIMITED WHICH HAVE BEEN DEREGISTERED.

[IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN SHAREHOLDERS HOLDING 'B' CLASS SHARES, AND SHAREHOLDERS HOLDING 'A' CLASS ORDINARY SHARES. 'A' CLASS SHARES ATTRACT A MUCH HIGHER DIVIDEND THAN 'B' CLASS SHARES AND THEY CARRY VOTING RIGHTS WHICH CLASS 'B' SHARES DO NOT. THE DIFFERENCE IS ILLUSTRATED IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS 1999 ANNUAL REPORT. 'A' CLASS SHARES ATTRACTED AN INTERIM DIVIDEND OF 10 PER CENT AND A PROPOSED FINAL DIVIDEND OF 10 PER CENT [TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT &2,092,930] THE ORDINARY 'B' CLASS SHARES HELD BY THE FIJIAN AFFAIRS BOARD ATTRACTED A PROPOSED DIVIDEND OF 5 PER CENT [TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT $1,000,000]

THE TOP TWENTY SHAREHOLDERS

1. THE MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS IS THE FIJIANS AFFAIRS BOARD WHICH OWN 20,329,855 SHARES OF CLASS 'B' SHARES [66.7 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL SHAREHOLDING]

2. THE SECOND LARGEST SHAREHOLDER IS THE NATIVE LAND TRUST BOARD WITH 893,501 SHARES.

3. THE THIRD LARGEST GROUP OF SHAREHOLDERS WITH MORE THAN 100,000 SHARES EACH ARE AS FOLLOWS;

CICIA PLANTATION CO-OP SOC LT 400,000[finance from FDB] RATU SIR K MARA EDUCATION TRUST FUND 300,000 TAILEVU DAIRY FARMERS CO-OP 300,000 BA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 206,917[finance from FDB MACUATA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 203,614 MAVANA INVESTMENTS LIMITED 200,000[finance from FDB] MUALEVU TIKINA HOLDINGS LTD 200,000[finance from FDB] VANUA KO LOVONI INVESTMENT LIMITED 179,805[finance from FDB] DUAVATA HOLDINGS LTD 150,000 BUA PROVINICIAL COUNCIL 137,102[finance from FDB] RARA O NAKELO HOLDINGS LTD 117,616[finance from FGDB] MALOMALO TIKINA HOLDINGS LTD 107,111 MOALA TIKINA COUNCIL 101,005[finance from FDB] VUKICEA INVESTMENT LTD 100,000[finance from FDB] NAQARANI HOLDINGS LIMITED 100,000[finance from FDB] VATULELE ISLAND HOLDINGS LIMITED 100,000[finance from FDB] MUNIA HOLDINGS LIMITED 100,000[finance from FDB] DOGOTUKI TIKINA COUNCIL 100,000[finance from FDB]

ON INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES THE BREAKDOWN OF OWNERSHIP OF THE PRIVATE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES IS AS FOLLOWS;

1. MAVANA INVESTMENTS LIMITED - 200,000 SHARES [FHL]

MAVANA INVESTMENTS LIMITED IS OWNED BY A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS. THE MAJORITY OF THE SHARES ARE OWNED BY THE MAVANA VILLAGE FUND - 108,500 SHARES. Q-TEN INVESTMENTS IS OWNED BY THE FAMILY OF MR LAISENIA QARASE.

2. KO LOVONI INVESTMENT LTD - 179,805 SHARES [FHL]

THE DIRECTORS OF VANUA KO LOVONI INVESTMENT LTD ARE DESCRIBED AS VILLAGERS FROM VARIOUS VILLAGES IN OVALAU. THE COMPANY WAS REGISTERED ON 6TH MAY 1993. ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS FROM THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES VANUA KO LOVONI INVESTMENT LIMITED OWES THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK A TOTAL OF $199,188.65.

3. VUKICEA INVESTMENTS LIMITED - 100,000 SHARES [FHL]

VUKICEA INVESTMENTS LIMITED WAS REGISTERED ON 16TH OCTOBER 1992. IT IS WHOLLY OWNED BY THE VUKICEA FAMILY OF CICIA, LAU. A DEBENTURE OF $80,000 WAS REGISTERED BY THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK OF 30TH NOVEMBER 1993. THE MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION DETAILING THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPANY WAS WITNESSED BY MR SITIVENI WELEILAKEBA, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF FIJIAN HOLDINGS.

4. MUNIA HOLDINGS LIMITED - 100,000 SHARES [FHL]

THE DIRECTORS OF MUNIA HOLDINGS LIMITED ARE KAMELI VOSA AND SOLOMONE VOSAICAKE. THE COMPANY WAS REGISTERED ON 9TH DECEMBER 1989. A DEBENTURE OF $80, 000 WAS REGISTERED BY THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT ON 26TH FEBRUARY 1995.

5. VATULELE ISLAND HOLDINGS LIMITED - 100,000 SHARES [FHL]

THE COMPANY WAS FORMED ON 11TH DECEMBER 1993. ITS DIRECTORS ARE VILLAGERS FROM VALUTLELE. THE REGISTRAR WROTE TO THE COMPANY ON 11TH DECEMBER 2000 STATING THAT HE HAD REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE COMPANY WAS NOT OPERATING FOLLOWING A FURTHER LETTER ON 10TH APRIL 2000 THE COMPANY WAS REMOVED FROM THE COMPANIES REGISTER.

6. MALOMALO TIKINA HOLDINGS LTD - 107,111 SHARES [FHL]

THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY ARE RATU SAMUELA NAULAGO AND RATU MESULAME VOSAILAGI, BOTH FARMERS OF SIGATOKA. THE COMPANY WAS FORMED ON 12TH DECEMBER 1994.

WE WERE ADVISED BY THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OF OCMPANIES THAT DETAILS OF THE TIKINA HOLDING COMPANIES IN THE TOP TWENTY WERE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE FIJIAN AFFAIRS BOARD BY WRITTEN REQUEST.

THE FAMILY OWNED COMPANIES WITH SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDING IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS AS LISTED BY THE COMPANY IN 1998 ARE;

1. KINGFISHER ENTERPRISES 77,508 [finance from FDB]

2. KJY INVESTMENT LIMITED [KONISI YABAKI] 50,000 [finance form FDB]

3. LANA INVESTMENT LTD [RATU N. LALABALAVU] 95,000 [finance from FDB]

4. MB INVESTMENT LIMITED [M BULANAUCA] 100,000 [finance from FDB]

5. MARKIN INVESTMENT [ISIKELI TAOI] 100,000 [finance from FDB]

6. MEPSAN INVESTMENT [PECELI MATANITOBUA] 67,932 [finance from FDB]

7. NABUABUA HOLDINGS 100,000 [finance from FDB]

8. RABULI INVESTMENT [MEREANI RABULI] 50,000 [finance from FDB]

9. RAFIRE LINVESTMENT [M. RABUKA] 100,000 [finance from FDB]

10. SAKIANA INVESTMENT 50,000

11. TAOI INVESTMENT [J VITUSAGAVULU] 150,000

12. TUKULA HOLDINGS [SIR JOSAIA TAVIQIA] 100,000 [finance from FDB]

13. VENSALISI INVESTMENT 50,000

14. YALIMAIWAI INVESTMENT [ANARE BULA] 100,000 [finance from FDB]

15. 5X INVESTMENTS 100,000 [finance from FDB]

16. BAKANI INVESTMENT 100,000

17. BARAVI ASSOCIATES 50,000

18. FJ JAMNOVIS INVESTMENT 100,000 [finance from FDB]

19. I WAQA & COMPANY 80,000

20. JAY TEE INVESTMENT [S TABAKANACA] 100,000 [finance from FDB]

21. KB INVESTMENT 100,000 [finance from FDB]

THE MAJORITY OF COMPANIES BOUGHT THEIR SHARES BETWEEN DECEMBER 1991 AND MAY 1993.

QUESTIONS

1. WHAT IS THE FULL EXTENT OF LOANS MADE BY THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY COMPANIES TO BUY SHARES IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS?

2. ON WHAT TERMS WERE THESE INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES GIVEN LOANS BY THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK?

3. WERE THE PROVINCIAL COUNCILS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD BUY SHARES ON SIMILAR TERMS?

ON 26TH MAY 1995 SUBSANTIAL LOTS OF SHARES WERE ISSUED TO THE PROVINCIAL COUNCILS. ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY'S SHARE REGISTER DATED 30TH SEPT 1998.

BA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 34,801 SHARES

BUA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 87,002 SHARES

KADAVU PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 43,501 SHARES

LAU PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 17,401 SHARES

LOMAIVITI HOLDINGS 52,201 SHARES

MACUATA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 87,002 SHARES

NADROGA/NAVOSA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 17,400 SHARES

NAMOSI PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 35,671 SHARES

RA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 8,700 SHARES

REWA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 43,501 SHARES

SERUA PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 87,002 SHARES

TAILEVU PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 52,201 SHARES

A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF OTHER SHARES WERE ALSO ISSUED ON 26TH MAY 1995 TO MATAQALI, TIKINA AND VILLAGE BASED COMPANIES.

MATAQALI

1. DROVALAU INVESTMENTS 16,743

2. ERENAWAI HOLDINGS 16,743

3. MATAITINI DEVELOPMENT 16,743

4. MATAQALI NATABUTALE 16,743

5. NABAIKPAODI HOLDINGS 16,743

6. NATURUBU TIKINA HOLDINGS 16,743

7. TOKATOKA VUWAI HOLDINGS 16,743

8. TUBANAWAI HOLDINGS 16,743

9. VALELEVU HOLDINGS 16,743

10. DOROKAVU HOLDINGS 16,578

11. RUKURUKU INVEST CO. [RAVUAMA BAISAGALE] 50,000 [finance from FDB]

TIKINA

1. BURETA TIKINA HOLDINGS 26,101 [finance from FDB]

2. CICIA TIKINA HOLDINGS 33,104

3. DREKETI TIKINA INVESTMENTS 17,400

4. MALOMALO TIKINA HOLDINGS 87,000

5. MOALA TIKINA HOLDINGS 34,475 [finance from FDB]

6. MAULEVU TIKINA HOLDINGS 77,508 [finance from FDB]

7. NAMUKA TIKINA COUNCIL 17,400

8. NAWAIDINA INVESTMENTS 17,400

9. RARA O NAKELO 117,616 [finance from FDB]

10. UDU TIKINA COUNCIL 17,400

11. VANUA O SABETO 17,400

12. VATULELE ISLAND HOLDINGS 78,410 [finance from FDB]

VILLAGE

1. AROVUDI VILLAGE DEVEL CO. 16,045

2. DALICONI INVESTMENT 16,142

3. DELADAMANU INVEST HOLDINGS 16.142

4. LOMATI VILLAGE INVESTMENT 44,716

5. MAULEVU KORO INVESTMENT 73,290

6. MUNIA HOLDINGS 16,142

7. NABUKEBUKE HOLDINGS 75,990 [finance from FDB]

8. NAKABEA INVESTMENT 16,142

9. NAMUKA-I-LAU 73,290 [finance from FDB]

10. NAYAVU VILLAGE 16,142

11. TARUKUA VILLAGE 25,516 [finance from FDB]

12. TAWAVA INVESTMENTS 36,645 [finance from FDB]

QUESTIONS

1. ON WHAT BASIS WERE SHARES IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS ALLOCATED TO THE PROVINCIAL AND TIKINA COUNCILS IN 1995?

2. HOW WERE THE SHARES TO THE PROVINCIAL AND TIKINA COUNCILS FUNDED

3. WHAT CRITERIA DID THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK USE IN FUNDING THE PURCHASE OF SHARES?

4. WHAT DIVIDENTS HAVE THE PROVINCIAL AND TIKINA COUNCILS RECEIVED SINCE 1995?

THE NEED FOR AN INQUIRY

WHAT IS CLEAR FROM THE HISTORY OR SHARES OWNERSHIP IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS IS THAT THE $20 MILLION LOAN FROM GOVERNMENT WAS NOT USED TO BENEFIT THE FIJIAN PEOPLE AS THE GREAT COUNCIL OF CHIEFS HAD INTENDED. THE DOMINANCE OF INDIVIDUALS AND PRIVATE FAMILY COMPANIES BENEFITED A FEW WHO HAD ACCESS TO FINANCE FROM THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT. QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ASKED AS TO WHY THIS WAS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN. WHAT ROLE DID MR QARASE PLAY AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK IN FACILITATING LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS AND PRIVATE COMPANIES TO PURCHASE SHARES IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS OF WHICH HE WAS A BOARD MEMBER? WAS FINANCE FROM THE FIJI DEVELOPMENT BANK MADE AVAILABLE TO THE 14 PROVINCIAL COUNCILS AT THE SAME TIME THAT IT WAS BEING OFFERED TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY COMPANIES? IS THE LIST OF THE TOP TWENTY SHAREHOLDERS A TRUE AND ACCURATE PICTURE OF THE CURRENT OWNERSHIP OF FIJIAN HOLDINGS? THESE AND OTHER QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED BY AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY.

THE DECISION BY THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT TO TRANSFER $I MILLION CLASS "B" SHARES IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS TO EACH OF THE PROVINCE WILL BE OF MINIMUM BENEFIT TO THE MAJORITY OF THE FIJIAN PEOPLE. THE ANNUAL DIVIDEND TO EACH PROVINCE FOR ITS "B" CLASS SHARES WILL BE IN THE VICINITY OF $50,000.

IF THE ORIGINAL LOAN OF $14 MILLION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO EACH PROVINCE IN THE FORM OF A LOAN TO PURCHASE ONE MILLION CLASS 'A' SHARES, THE TOTAL MARKET VALUE OF THEIR HOLDING TODAY WOULD BE $38.5 MILLION AND THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THE BENEFIT OF HIGH DIVIDENDS WHICH WOULD HAVE ADEQUATELY COVERED THEIR REPAYMENTS.


Inextricably, Qarase provides little to no evidence in detailing how the Fijian Trust Fund empowers the native commoner or explain how it improves their lifestyle which has been more or less, alienated from the rest of Fiji's community via a political policy.

Nor does Qarase explain the financial revenue derived from the flagship company of the elite natives called Fijian Holdings. Fijian Holdings had been touted as the premier ethnic block investment company, the truth is that Qarase and his cronies own more Class A shares than the shares of villages, Tikinas and Provincial Councils put togther.

The minority elite layer via their fictionally named companies, enjoy more spin-offs, royalties and status than the majority of native people, which the company proports to represent. So much for the fallacy of a 'Fijian Pysche'.

The actual explanation given by the Fijian elites to the ignorant masses regarding their monetary rewards, can be equated with number fudging, fuzzy maths and trickle down economics.

The saddest day in Fiji occurred, when these cultural abusers and ethno-nationalists, sought to defraud native commoners in collusion with the existing native institutional framework for political mileage, whilst ignoring the pleas of the common native person whose ancestral land was leased out by the Native Lands Trust Board(NLTB) without succint approval, prior negotiations or sufficient compensation.


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Monday, September 17, 2007

Few And Far Between- A Question of Audits in FAB.


Discrepancies to the accounts of several Provincial Councils(PCs) have resurfaced with much disappointment, in a Fiji Live article.


This is an excerpt of the Fiji Live article:

Concern over un-audited accounts
Monday September 17, 2007

The Fijian Affairs ministry is appalled at the status of provincial council financial accounts which have not been audited since 1995.

Executive officer Kini Rarubi confirmed that the ministry is trying to establish why the provincial councils did not get their accounts audited for so long. He said the Independent Investigating Team into Institutions Fijian (IITIF) which was appointed by the interim Government to investigate corruption, is currently looking at this.

“Most of these provincial councils have not had their accounts audited since 1995 and this is a concern for us.”

“We are very surprised because we did not expect this to happen as all provincial accounts should be audited every year.” He said the investigation team led by Colonel Apakuki Kurusiga is trying to establish why it took so long for the accounts to be audited.

The team recommended that the process be contracted to private firms so that the financial status of councils are finalised.


Fijilive


A series of Fiji Sun articles presented a somewhat extruded 'blame game' between the Fijian Affairs Board(FAB), Office of the Auditor General and the various Provincial Council.

The next Fiji Sun article follows up with a denial from Ba Provincial Council. The following is an excerpt:

Blame FAB, says provincial council
Fiji Sun
Last updated 6/26/2007 7:46:08 AM

Another province has revealed that if its accounts were not audited, the Fijian Affairs department should be the one to answer as its accounts were sent to them every three, six and 12 months.

The Ba Provincial Council Roko Viliame Burenivalu yesterday said sometimes the ministry used to call some of its council staff to help sorting out the council accounts with the Fijian Affairs office in Suva. He said when he enquired from his staff after returning from Suva they usually told him that they were working with the ministry’s staff to clear out the 2000 and 2001 accounts.

“If there is any lateness in the auditing of accounts then the ministry should be the one to answer,” said Mr Burenivalu. He said sometimes his staff informed him after returning to Suva that council accounts for 2000 and 2001 did not balance. “If the figures did not match than the Fijian Affairs should also answer,” he said.

Mr Burenivalu made the comment after former senator Ponipate Lesavua who is a member of the investigating team that conduct investigation on the Fijian Institution said none of the 14 provincial council had submitted report of the money that the Government provided every year.

Serua Provincial Council chairman Atunaisa Lacabuka said the last time its accounts was audited was in 2000. He said the Auditor Generals Office had audited its accounts and he wanted its council accounts to be audited every year.


The 2004 Auditor General's report overview for the 1994 accounts.

Another salvo of blaming the FAB, was fired from Lomaiviti, Naitasiri, Lau and Ba Provincial Councils respectively.

FAB blamed for non-audited account
Fiji Sun
Last updated 7/5/2007 7:36:13 AM

Provincial council heads have blamed the Fijian Affairs Board for the non-auditing of some accounts. A recent investigation into the Native Land Trust Board (NLTB)revealed that some provincial council accounts were not audited.

Lomaiviti Provincial Council said it sends its accounts quarterly to its head office (Fijian Affairs Board) in Suva, its administrative head, Ratu Filimoni Baleimua, said. Ratu Filimoni said its accounts were usually prepared and kept properly by his staff before they were sent to Suva. “The accounts are sent every quarterly to Suva,” Ratu Filimoni said. “The FAB is responsible for the accounts' audit.”

The NLTB investigation established, amongst other things, that most of the provincial councils did not have audit reports on funds given to them by the State.

" Tailevu Provincial Council chairman Josefa Seruilagilagi said it had tried to pay a private company to audit its account but was stopped by the Fijian Affairs".


Naitasiri Provincial Council chairman Solomoni Naivalu said that its accounts were usually audited every year. This year's, however, is yet to be audited. Lau Provincial Council's Peni Sokia said it sent its accounts to the Fijian Affairs every month. He said if the accounts were not audited than the FAB should be accountable as it handled all the accounts.

Ba Provincial Council's Viliame Burenivalu said it sent its accounts to the FAB every three months. He said the board should explain delays in the auditing of some of the provinces' accounts.




However, axed Chief Executive of FAB, Litia Qionabaravi defended the Board's track record under her tenure. This is an excerpt of the Fiji Sun article:

Ex-FAB chief defends audit of province accounts
Fiji Sun
Last updated 7/6/2007 4:16:22 PM

The Fijian Affairs Board and the office of the Auditor-General made concerted efforts to update the backlog in the audit of accounts.

"The board had set out target dates for completion of all outstanding accounts and these were followed up with chartered accounting firms and the office of the Auditor-General," Adi Litia said.

Former FAB chief executive officer Adi Litia Qionibaravi said some of the efforts undertaken include giving out the audit of the provincial council accounts to chartered accounting firms since 2004. She made the comment in reaction to statements by some provinces that it blamed the FAB for the backlog in the audit of its accounts.

Colonel Apakuki Kurusiga, who leads the investigation into the Native Land Trust Board, highlighted the problem.

Adi Litia said the board had set up a special audit unit to facilitate the preparation of information required by the chartered accounting firms. She said it established an audit committee of the board to oversee the progress in the audit of accounts. Adi Litia said training had been provided to provincial treasurers on basic accounting, including the preparation of financial statement.

The former chief executive officer said all outstanding audits could be completed if efforts and action approved by the board are continued. She said the provincial councils, through the Roko Tui, remit their accounts on a fortnightly basis to the FAB.


The feeble defense by Qionabaravi begs the question that, if an audit committee had been formed in FAB to collate date for the private auditing companies; surely there is no excuse to say the data set from 1996 onwards, are yet to be prepared.
With such a lax attitude, coupled with no oversight; it is not surprising to see such a sad state of affairs, prompting a major and long overdue clean-up by the Interim Government.

Fiji Auditor General responded to the former CEO's claim in a Fiji Sun article:


FAB failed to send accounts: A-G
Last updated 7/7/2007 8:37:11 AM

The Fijian Affairs Board has not submitted its accounts to the Auditor-General’s Office for the last 10 years. And that is the main problem of the backlog in auditing its accounts, including that of the 14 provinces.

Auditor-General Eroni Vatuloka said yesterday the delay of the audit went back to the last five to seven years. “We audit the accounts of the 14 provincial councils in accordance with the Fijian Affairs (Provincial Councils) Regulations 1996,” said Mr Vatuloka. He made the statement in reaction to claims by some of the provincial councils stating that the A-G’s Office had not audited their financial accounts.

Mr Vatuloka said the only way to solve the problem was to wait for the committee which had been established to assist the FAB prepare the accounts and send them to his office.

Former FAB chief executive officer Adi Litia Qionibaravi said there had been a concerted effort between the Fijian Affairs Board and the office of the Auditor-General to update the backlog in the audit of accounts.

She said some of the efforts undertaken included taking out the audit of the provincial councils’ accounts to chartered accounting firms since 2004/2005. Adi Litia said the board had set up a special audit unit to facilitate the preparation of information required by the chartered accounting firms. She said it had established an audit committee of the board to oversee the progress in the audit of accounts.

Adi Litia said training has been provided to provincial treasurers on basic accounting including the preparation of financial statement.


Although, the Auditor General appeared to defend his office's reputation; he neglects the backlog of accounts gathering cobwebs on his door step. Seriously, the situation presents a recipe for a storm of financial abuse, which is seemingly trivialized by the Auditor General. Whether or not the Auditor General's office was culpable or was involved in any hint of collusion with the Provincial Councils is a worthy question to ask.

Along with those unfulfilled audits by Fijian Affairs Board, was the revelation of the legal costs ringed up by the Native Lands Trust Board (NLTB), as reported by a Fiji Village article, which outlined legal companies who were on retainer with NLTB.

Clearly the issue of retainership, appears to be the common thread between the two vestiges of Fijian Administration. While FAB has failed to retain private Auditors to scrutinize the expenditure of State funds to the various PC's, NLTB is guilty of over retaining the legal services to defend their litany of abuses, stemming from their failure in performing their fiduciary duties.

This is an excerpt:

Serious concerns raised over NLTB costs
Serious concerns have been highlighted in the Fijian Administration report on the amount of money spent by the Native Land Trust Board on legal costs.

The report prepared by the team led by Colonel Apakuki Kurusiga said numerous litigations against the NLTB reflect its inability to satisfy land owners requests. It said that litigation is purported to be the board's main business since it ranks second to salaries and wages in costs to the NLTB.

The report highlights that the 2004 Annual Report of the NLTB shows that legal cost alone is 1.474 million dollars and this depicts the notion that NLTB's main activity is litigations.

It has also been pointed out that over the years, staff turnover at the NLTB's legal section has been drastic and the board was forced to outsource legal actions with three legal firms which were Sevuloni Valenitabua in Suva, Vuetaki Qoro in Lautoka and Harry Robinson in Labasa. The report said that three thousand dollars was paid to Valenitabua as retainer fees per month, Vuetaki Qoro was paid four thousand dollars per month for a retainer and Harry Robinson paid two thousand dollars per month as retainer fees.

The Fijian Administration review team has recommended that the board should not outsource its legal work but hire the services of a senior or experienced lawyer preferably with Land Management qualification. The team was appointed to review the Fijian Administration as part of the President's mandate which includes that the NLTB should be restructured to ensure more benefits flow to the ordinary indigenous Fijians.


Another entity within the FAB is also under the microscope, according to a Fiji Times article:



Caginavanua in corruption probe

1201 FJT
Monday, September 10, 2007

Update: 12.01pm THE contract of Native Lands Reserve Commissioner Ilaitia Caginavanua with the Native Land Trust Board has not been renewed since its expiry last month.

Interim Fijian Affairs Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau said the board of NLTB decided against the renewal because Mr Caginavanua was under investigation for alleged corruption, according to Radio Fiji Gold News.

"The Reserve Commissioner even though his contract has lapsed...the Board has also not renewed his contract, he is also being investigated by the committee of Colonel Kurusiga on some of the allegations leveled against him during his term as Reserve Commissioner", said Ratu Epeli.



The image below is an organization structure of FAB. Note that the Native Lands Commissioner is under the FAB umbrella. It is the various arms in Fijian Affairs Board which are being currently scrutinized.





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