THE iTaukei land Trust Board (TLTB) has received a sum of more than $1.8 million from the Ministry of Economy to assist TLTB agricultural and residential tenants who were affected by Tropical Cyclone Joyce and Gita earlier this year.
TLTB chief executive officer Mr Tevita Kuruvakadua said this rent assistance under the Lease Care Programme covers annual rent and lease administration fees for 2018.
“Those tenants who had paid rental for 2018; your eligible amount will be credited into your lease account next year (2019),” he added.
TLTB recognises with appreciation the assistance by Government to tenants who have been victims of natural disasters such as tropical cyclones, earthquakes and heavy rainfall causing severe landslides and floods are increasing in frequency and intensity that have devastated small islands nation’s economy and livelihoods of its people including Fiji.
Natural disasters pushed back progress by years and; the frequency of such by decades. There is a strong and vocal push on global climate change agenda where Fiji has stood up in the world stage, our Prime Minister and TLTB Chairman being the President of COP23, as a voice for small island states, especially those surrounded by oceans, on their vulnerability to climate change impacts from global warming, ocean acidification and rising sea level.
And we the people of the Pacific whose existence are threatened by climate change impacts demand developed countries to cut backs on their carbon emission through green growth framework and alignment to SDG’s 17 goals.
Such assistance provided financial relief to the affected tenants and directly benefits the itaukei landowners who will actually receive these rent payments from TLTB on time.