Sausauvou Vol. 3 – 2024
December 12, 2024
In a significant step toward empowering Indigenous Fijian communities, Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka officiated the handover of heavy machinery and equipment worth $1.6 million to four Land Owning Unit (LOU) groups.
The handover, held in Suva, included: Two tractors, One trucker, A bulldozer, A digger and a 12-wheeler truck.
The political change in late December 2022 was historical for the country in terms of social and political development, changes and leadership, generating many other changes in direction, policies and strategies in many organisations and institutions.
While giving a brief rundown on TLTB’s itaukei empowerment strategies at the handing over ceremony yesterday, CEO Mr Solomone Nata said changes also occurred at the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) and in the face of increasing poverty and low participation in commerce by iTaukei, the Board of Trustees endorsed lowering its operating poundage to 8% from 10% and set aside 10% as the iTaukei Wealth Fund.
With these changes in effect, the iTLTB now charges a total of 18% instead of the 25% it charged in previous years. Out of the 18 percent, 8 percent is used for operating costs while 10% is retained as a ‘wealth fund’.
The iTaukei Wealth Fund was endorsed by the Board of Trustees of TLTB; however, understanding that the process of accumulation will take time, the Board endorsed the setting aside of $5 million for the iTaukei Development Fund to empower landowners to engage in beneficial partnerships that promote economic growth and environmental stewardship within their communities.
Through the iTaukei Development Fund, four landowning units and companies and cooperatives received equipment worth $1.6 million in a handing-over ceremony officiated by Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka today in Suva.
Addressing the recipients, guests, and Government ministers, Prime Minister Rabuka stated that the TLTB has taken bold steps to implement initiatives addressing landowners’ need for capital or access to capital.
“This initiative will empower landowners through the provision of tools and necessary knowledge to fully utilise their resources. By facilitating access to training and support, landowners will be better equipped to grow their businesses and engage more actively in the country’s economic activities,” said the Prime Minister.
“This will not only enhance their livelihoods but also contribute to the overall economic development of the community.”
“As we recognise this pivotal initiative by TLTB today, it is essential to acknowledge the remarkable wisdom and vision of the late Statesman Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, along with the chiefs who steadfastly supported him during that crucial time. Their decisive actions were fundamental in the establishment of TLTB, previously known as NLTB, in 1940.”
“Today we have seen the importance of the institution in protecting our iTaukei land and facilitating economic development in the country. Your government, the Coalition Government, has enabled an environment of economic participation through policies, programs, and strategies to empower resource owners and grow the pie for everyone through economic growth,” the Prime Minister further said.
The Prime Minister adds that the recently launched National Development Plan has strategies and timelines to be delivered for the empowerment of resource owners and economic participation in the country.
The implementation of effective strategies, such as the commercial Solesolevaki framework for the iTaukei institutions, will empower landowners to effectively use their land and resources for commercial-minded projects and be guided for sustainability.
Government is implementing these strategies through the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, Cooperative Medium and Small Enterprises and the Ministry of Agriculture and their effectiveness is seen through the visible growth of the number of cooperative associations and enterprises over the past 20 months.
The Prime Minister stated that the main obstacles to successful business participation in commercial activities by indigenous communities are the lack of governance, management, business skills, and capital.
“They must be enhanced through training and capacity building, mentoring, and an effective monitoring and evaluation framework being implemented, and I acknowledge that in the last 12 months, various initiatives have been implemented by the board geared towards the economic empowerment of our landowners,” said Prime Minister Rabuka.
PM Rabuka adds that the iTaukei Development Fund’s primary objective is the empowerment of landowners to effectively develop their land and their resources, fostering economic growth.
“It is a two-pronged facility with $4 million allocated to assist landowning units and $1 million allocated to assist individual members of landowning units. Through that initiative, the TLTB aims to encourage active business participation among landowners, ultimately raising their standards of living.”
The Prime Minister, however, said that individual landowners must demonstrate a strong business case with viable and sustainable business plans to be considered for assistance under the facility. The facility gives priority to projects that enhance the empowerment of individual landowners, promoting income generation, job creation, and entrepreneurship.
“I am pleased to formally hand over the machines to the three landowning unit companies and cooperatives that have provided strong evidence of their capability and capacity to operate a business and effectively use their resources to maximise productivity.”
“To the three landowning units and companies and cooperatives who are beneficiaries in this facility today, Government is looking forward to seeing that your businesses thrive and contribute economically to the nation with tangible social impacts to your well-being and your welfare. The business must grow strong and sustainable; you must change the game, ensuring governance is played well and transformed,” concluded the Prime Minister.
The iTaukei businesses that received equipment today include:
1. Infinity Pacific PTE Limited from Tokotoko Nasautoro, Korovuto, Nadi, which received assistance of $193,900 for the purchase of two vehicles.
2. Nativi Cooperative from Nativi Village in Saivou, Ra, which is leasing a total area of 119 acres for cane farming. They received a total of $62,000, with $59,000 allocated for the purchase of a new tractor and $3,000 designated as working capital.
3. The Dreketi Mahogany Landowners Cooperative from the province of Macuata, consisting of 10 landowning units that will harvest and cart Mahogany logs from their land, has been granted a total of $1.3 million to purchase a 10-wheeler truck, a loader, and an excavator.
4. Additionally, Tui Labasa Ratu Jone Qomate, who has 115 acres of sugarcane farm, received assistance for a tractor valued at $47,000.
This assistance aims to enhance their operations and support local agriculture and business development.
So far TLTB has approved 33 applications out of the 187 applications with a total value of $2.7 million.
