TLTB will Intervene on Tokatoka Land Dealings in Momi

The iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) will intervene on the illegal itaukei land dealings on Tokatoka Nasau in Tau, Nadroga for what is being claimed as unpaid landowners’ monies for a soil extraction work.

In response to an article by the Fiji Sun newspaper on Wednesday (30^th October 2019), CEO Mr Tevita Kuruvakadua says that there is evidence that land has been extracted but TLTB was not aware at all.

“The extraction of soil from the tokatoka land by landowning unit member Mr Sokonaia Ragose and contractor Mr Tony Herbert was illegal and TLTB will intervene to pursue the necessary payments to the landowners by either C.P. Group or Mr Tony Herbert and that monies collected are distributed to all landowning unit members,” he says.

Mr Herbert’s company was given the task by C.P. Group the owner of the freehold property at Momi to manage the land filling and construction of their $60 million Sofitel SO Resort.

“We have noted that all discussions done by Mr Ragose and Mr Herbert was done in isolation and TLTB was not even informed of any such dealing on that land. Under the law, TLTB should have been consulted,” says Mr Kuruvakadua.

Based on our discussion made between one of the directors of C.P. Group Mr Sanjay Pratap and Mr Rogose we can confirm the following:

• TLTB was not approached and therefore are not aware of any dealings or extraction made on that particular land.
• There was no license issued to Tokatoka Nasau or Mr Hebert’s company from TLTB to extract soil from the tokatoka land and to be dumped at the freehold land belonging to C.P. Group.
• Mr Rogose has apologized to TLTB for what he had done and now seeking TLTB’s assistance to help him and his tokatoka.

C.P. Group has agreed to continue their investment and also pay their dues and properly compensate the landowners.