$174m given to landowners under the ERD Policy

Since July 2015, the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) had distributed a total $174 million (in the last 3 years) to an average of 51366 individual members (over 18 years) under the Equal Rent Distribution (ERD) Policy to various Landowning units (yavusa, mataqali and tokatoka) on a monthly basis.

In addition, TLTB’s chief executive officer Mr Tevita Kuruvakadua said the Board also invested a total of $32.5 million for 39834 landowning unit (LOU) members below 18 years (minors) to various investment institutions in the country.

“These funds will only be released to the itaukei children who are entitled to these lease monies once they turn 18 years. Out of the 39834 under 18 minors’ accounts, 20812 are male members and 19022 are female members,” he said.

“The purpose of keeping these funds for our children is to empower them to start up new opportunities when they turn 18 – either to further their studies, start a new business venture or expand to other available opportunities in life,” he added.

Mr Kuruvakadua said these would relieve a lot of burdens from parents and guardians as there would be something in store for their children when they turn 18.

The ERD option was introduced by the current Government with effect from January 2011 – but effectively implemented by TLTB through its IT lease distribution system with effect from July 2015.

Mr Kuruvakadua said the implementation phase was a bit delayed due to the enhancement of the TLTB’s IT systems and the digitalisation of the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB) through the iTaukei Lands & Fisheries Commission (TLFC).

The ERD was the first option to be adopted when distributing lease monies to members of a LOU; be it a yavusa, mataqali or tokatoka. However, the LOU’s can also opt to have their lease monies directed to a Mataqali Trust Account if they have only one or two leases with their mataqali lands but must have the concurrence of the majority of their LOU members. In this case, they will have to write a request to the Board to adopt the option called the “Assignment Option”.

Requirements for Mataqali Trust Account

• There is a form to fill,
• LOU members to sign on the form granting their consent,
• LOU meeting minutes to be attached authorising the setting up of their Mataqali Trust Account,
• Names of their Trustees.

When TLTB receives the form with the requirements above; it will then prepare a Deed of Trust (DOT) and the trustees signing off on the forms showing that they will take up the responsibility to manage their LOU lease monies and account for them at their Mataqali Meetings and Annual General Meetings.

Mr Kuruvakadua said the ERD has been a blessing for the iTaukei community in a number of ways:
1.     It has taken away a lot of LOU disputes within the Mataqali Members. Previously there used to be a lot of complaints and disputes, this has dramatically improved after the introduction of this distribution mode.
2.     It has strengthened the leadership within the LOU for them to encourage their members to become more visionary and to spend their monies wisely. Parents are now beginning to see fair distribution of lease monies and are encouraging their members (in particular the minors) to plan for their future;
3.     This has also encouraged a culture of savings and investments with the iTaukei community, rather than the previous culture of spending it all.
4.     It has solved a lot of fairness in treating female LOU members with dignity and respect. Most female LOU members have applauded this equal distribution mode as this is the first time most of them are receiving leases monies. Some of them by virtue of their status of being LOU members and landowners have never had a share of lease monies in their life time – and with this mode, the status of being a female and a mother are respected.
5.     It has also promoted gender equality;
6.     The introduction of this equal distribution mode has also led to the digitising of the VKB that has brought about efficiencies and easy access to VKB information.
7.     It has also enabled leaders within the LOU and parents of all families receiving their lease monies to think more strategically and commercially and then guide and empower their LOU members in the same path.
8.     We anticipate a lot of positive vibes and impact to most itaukei families in years to come when more children turn 18 years – they will be able to further their education in tertiary institutions which will lead to a more educated iTaukei generation.
9.     We also anticipate that once this process matures, more iTaukei will be engaged in small and micro business ventures that support the small business grants of the Government.
10.  It has also improved on cleaning up the VKB – registering the unregistered LOU members and also deleting LOU members that have passed on so that they all get access to their monies.
11.  Their status as landowners is respected as all living members get a share from their ownership status. In the past, only the titleholders get access to the funds and make decision alone on lease monies derived from the leasing of itaukei land.