Ba provincial council's commercial arm was successful in creating a satellite television provider whose main rival was Fiji Television subsidiary Sky TV. Ba provincial also entered into partnership with Caribbean mobile carrier Digicel; who are also major sponsors of Fiji 7's brand.
Digicel's sponsorship of Fiji Rugby places the chairman Keni Dakuidreketi in a tight spot(especially in wake of the Australia A massacre of the Fiji XV), of declaring his interest. Fiji Island Business online magazine outlines in two articles, the extent of the dealings involving those eyeing the cellular network licenses.
Native Lands Trust Board(N.L.T.B) appointed Messr Dakuidreketi as a proxy entity lobbying proposals for N.L.T.B's commercial arm: Vanua development Corporation who established a third competitor to the cell phone market.
Dakuidreketi also represents certain hotel developers involved with Natadola project, further staining his integrity as a honest broker. A symposium for Land Tenure conflicts held at University of the South Pacific between 10-12th April 2002, published a list of attendees. Among them were high profile N.L.T.B officials and Dakuidreketi. That particular knowledge gaining exercise, undeniably will face the acid test with outraged native land owners who will not shy away from legal avenues.
Legal Challenge to Natadola Hotel Development
Fiji T.V 7 Aug 2006 16:51:24
The multi-million dollar resort development at Natadola has hit a snag with a court order stopping development on part of the property.
Mataqali Waikelia is alledging the Native Land Trust Board and a developer, Hotel Property Pacific Limited colluded to acquire a lease on a piece of land where a golf course designed by Vijay Singh is being built.
Court documents were obtained by Fiji One News today. They were filed in the Lautoka High Court on June 16th by lawyers representing Mataqali Waikelia.
This mataqali claims to own approximately 69 and half acres of land at Natadola where the resort development is taking place.
According to an affidavit filed by mataqali member Bati Qaniuci, members of the mataqali Waikelia currently reside on land which has been cleared by machinery by employees of Natadola Land Holdings Limited.
The mataqali claims the issuance of lease by NLTB is in blatant disregard to the rights and previledge of the mataqali, its members and the provisions of the Native Land Trust act.
With development work already underway, the mataqali claim in the affidivit they had a meeting with Keni Dakuidreketi of Hotel Property Pacific Limited on May 14th.
Bati Qaniuci gave sworn evidence that Dakuidreketi, also a board member of the NLTB asked the mataqali members to raise their queries with the NLTB.
The mataqali claims the NLTB and the 2nd defendents acted in collusion to deprive them and it's members the use and occupation of Waikelia and Naliku land.
Lautoka High court judge Justice Finnigan has issued a stop work order on the piece of land in dispute and also restrained the NLTB from processing or registering the lease on the disputed piece of land.
The matter is listed to be brought before the High Court on June 30th. And telephone messages left with the developers representatives weren't returned when this bulletin was prepared.
The co-venture between N.L.T.B and millionaire investor Ballu Khan. N.L.T.B also procurred SAP software using a Ballu Khan who charged a handsome sum. The case of State Vs Major Tenders Board, underlined the stakes involved. Other losing bidders for that lucrative software contract have also filed a law suit naming several locals as defendants, including Dakuidreketi.
Digicel's involvement in creating a Fiji entity is ruffling the feathers of those comfortable with the status quo of a monopolized cellular network industry. Vodaphone Fiji's monopoly status was effectively removed by the current Fiji Government, in a bid to open up competition in the market stagnant with inefficiencies.
An academic paper(PDF) by U.S.P lecturers: Spike Bodell and Krishn Shah provides an intellectual foundation on Fiji's most divisive issue: land.
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