Fiji’s iTaukei Land Trust Board Manager Clears Air on Land Claim

The iTaukei Land Trust Board’s general manager Tevita Kuruvakadua has confirmed that the land known as Bulileka, with an area of 212 acres, is a state freehold land and administered by the director of lands.

The piece of land is the current location of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces barracks in Vaturekuka, Labasa.

Some elders of the mataqali (landowning unit) Qawaicolo in Bulileka Village in the tikina (district) of Labasa had claimed earlier this week that the land belonged to them and they needed their share of land back.

Responding to questions sent by this newspaper, Mr Kuruvakadua said the land was outside the iTaukei Land Trust Board jurisdiction.

“We cannot assist the mataqali with a share of money from that land because it is a state freehold land and administered by the director of lands,” he said.

“The land is owned by the State and is not owned by the landowners who are putting forward their claims in this case.

“The main issue here is that the land is a state freehold and it is owned by the State and the landowners do not have any right to use it as yet or qualify for any lease monies from this land being questioned.”

Mr Kuruvakadua said the land was purchased by the colonial secretary in 1908 from the landowners of mataqali Qawa for 32 pounds.

“If there is any lease on this land, the lease monies will be received and administered by the director of lands,” he said.

“The Government is under no obligation to return these lands to the iTaukei landowners as it was purchased from them and the land is now state freehold land.

“As we know, the reversion of such land to the iTaukei landowners has currently been put on hold by the Government.”

Credit:Luisa Qiolevu, Fiji Times, 25 March, 2017

Fiji Government Approves for Residents in Ba to receive 99 year Land Lease

Minister for Local Government and Housing Parveen Bala has confirmed in parliament that residents of Clopcott Settlement in Ba will get 99 year leases by the end of this year.

Although NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad said that there are pending issues to be resolved, Bala said he knows that the members of the community are happy about the development.

Bala also says that it is obvious that they will follow all the planning requirements when questioned by opposition parliamentarian, Niko Nawaikula.

Bala also stressed that they have obtained the consent of the Itaukei landowners when asked by opposition MP, Aseri Radrodro.

The Local Government Minister says this is not about playing politics and the people living in Clopcott settlement will no longer be squatters as they will get the formalised leases later this year.

Credit: Vijay Narayan, FijiVillage.com, 21.03.2017

 

Landowners Demand $20m from Fiji Government

A group of landowners is demanding $20 million compensation from the Government for the use of their land for Tavua Town. In 1937, an area of native land owned by the mataqali (landowning unit) Tilivasewa was required by Government for the town.

And in 1950, the Tavua Rural Local Authority recommended an alternative new market site.

The Tavua Tikina Council meeting in the same year approved an exchange of land for the new proposed market site.

Since then, the mataqali claims, it has not received any form of financial return from the Government.

Speaking on behalf of the mataqali, Tevita Ralulu said no proper consultations were done with landowners prior to the building of the market on the new site and also on the construction of businesses in town.

“The market is now located opposite the village and is in the town area but the land is ours and the town council is totally lost on the land issue as I had spoken with the administrators,” he claimed.

“Landowners are entitled to the financial returns but we have not received any of it since the establishment of the town on our land.”

Mr Ralulu claimed for the past two years, the mataqali continuously made requests to Government to look into the issue because there was no proper consultation done with landowners for Government to build a market in that area.

He claimed the landowners had raised their concerns through letters to the Government, including the Minister for Local Government, Parveen Kumar, and requested for compensation. When approached outside Parliament yesterday, Mr Kumar said he was unaware of the issue but he would look into it if the matter is raised with him.

Credit: Litia Cava, Fiji Times 23 March , 2017

Fiji’s Attorney General Agrees That Lautoka Has Congestion Problem

Lautoka City’s traffic congestion problem was raised during the National Budget Consultation with Minister for Economy and the, A-G Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

A concerned resident complained about the amount of cars queued along the busy roads of the Sugar City every morning and afternoon. The resident also raised the issue of parking in the city.

Minister agreed the city had a parking and traffic issue.

“Lautoka of course is quite a narrow city if you think about it,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.

“There are only three main streets that go through the city and that is a problem.

“And you’re actually right, we need more car parks available whether it’s multi-storey.

“We will definitely look at that in terms of urban planning.”

He said the traffic problem was also prevalent in other urban centres including Nadi, Suva and Nausori.

Credit:Repeka Nasiko, Fiji Times, 20 March, 2017

Fiji’s $92 Million Biomass Power Plant To Open in May

The $US45 million ($F92m) Biomass Power plant in Nabou, Nadroga is expected to operate by May this year.

The total construction is more than 80 percent complete undertaken by Nabou Green Energy Ltd(NGEL).

Firm’s CEO Jun Hyung Lee said the construction would be completed next month and would commercially operate on the first week of May this year.

“At the moment, we are doing some testing work. All the mechanical work is done; we are left with the wiring work and some civil works.

Mr. Lee added everything was on schedule, but because of Tropical Cyclone Winston, there was a slight delay in the construction.

“There was not much damages because we were prepared for the cyclone and we had properly stored all our machines and equipment before TC Winston struck,” Mr. Lee said.

According to him, the design for the biomass plant was to surmount natural disasters.

“The biomass plant is strongly built and it can overcome cyclone that is stronger than Winston and also even earthquakes,” he said.

The project is the first Independent Power Projects (IPP) in the Pacific. A joint venture between Korea and Fiji.

Credit: Selita Bolanavanua, 17 March 2017, Fiji Sun.

Fiji’s Consumer Act Review Aims For Simplicity

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism held a Consumer Credit Act 1999 review workshop in Suva.

“The main aim of the review is to put in place a Consumer credit law that is simple, provides clear rules for credit providers, as well as, adequate protection to the consumer a d easy and practical to implement,” the ministry’s permanent secretary Shaheen Ali said during the event.

Mr. Ali said they started the review process of the Consumer Credit Act 1999 in September last year.

“As part of the process, we had undertaken a series of stakeholder consultations and a workshop to present the initial findings. The last workshop on the draft law was held on 13 October 2016,” he said.

“Since then we have made considerable progress in terms of incorporating stakeholder views and determining the institutional capacity and structure to implement the new law.”

Mr. Ali said: “The key purpose of the Consumer Credit Act Review is to empower credit providers through the streaming of the legal framework, for the provision of the credit and that consumers or debtors are adequately protected and allowed to make informed decisions before entering into a credit contract.

“The revised legal framework will also introduce responsible lending standards, where the credit providers make reasonable inquiries about a consumers’ financial situation, their requirements and objectives, take reasonable steps to verify the consumer’s financial situation and make assessment on whether the credit account is ‘suitable’ for the consumer.”

Furthermore, he added it would provide clearly defined legal redress system to allow consumers to have clear recourse, in the event their rights are breached in accredit contract.

“In addition to providing protection for the consumer of credit, the new law will provide clear rules for the credit providers to allow for a fair and level playing field in the industry, which encourages commerce and business.

“It is worth noting that the consumer credit legislation is not only about regulating the financial sector, but also about consumer protection and protection of micro, small and medium enterprises. The scopes of covers credit provided to a natural person or a small business, a consumer lease, mortgage, hire purchase, to name a few.

“This draft Act will not purport to create an unnecessary layer of registration or licensing of financial institutions. The Reserve bank of Fiji is vested with the power to register financial institutions, however, other non-deposit taking agencies that deal with credit transactions need to be registered also. This meeting provides an opportunity to discuss and validate these aspects.”

Following this consultation, the Draft Bill will be table in Parliament and it is expected to go through a Standing Committee that will undertake further consultations with all stakeholders and general public. The Committee will provide a report to Parliament,” He said.

Credit: Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism,15 March 2017.

Fiji Government’s Gives Grant To Building and Construction Sector

The building and construction sector is the most crucial contributor to the economy and as the economy continues to expand and new industries emerge, it is very important that the players in this sector are able to stand the test of time.

Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya made this statement at the handover of grants to five professional bodies at the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation building this morning.

He said the grant handover was the ministry’s effort to support professional associations in the country.

“Therefore, this grant to the five professional bodies is a means of Government’s support for these bodies to integrate service delivery standards, professional conduct and standards and training and upskilling for their members,” said Mr Koya.

The grants were handed over to the Fiji Institution of Engineers, Fiji Architects Association, Fiji Masters Builders Association, Fiji Institute of Quantity Surveyors and the Association of Registered Hairdressers and Beauticians.

Credit:Monika Singh,Fiji Times,17 March, 2017

 

Fiji Commerce Commission’s No Drop Policy

The Commission has been inundated with complaints against landlords and their agents on illegal increases in residential in residential since 2010.

As such, the commission has adopted ‘NO Drop’ policy on anyone found illegally increasing the rent of a residential premise during the rent freeze period.

A rent is considered illegal when it is increased above the rent applicable on the premises on 2^nd March, 2007.

The rent deemed ‘applicable’ if it is being legally charged that is the amount is equivalent to the first rent fixed by the landlord and tenant on the first letting of the property; or the increase has been approved by the commission after receiving the twelve (12) weeks written notice from the landlord.

If the rent charged is a product of an increase made without the approval of the commission, the said rent would be deemed an illegal increase and cannot be legally applied.

Any person who causes an illegal increase of rent for a given property during the freeze period would be liable for legal action.

1. Restriction to residential rent Increases

Paragraph 2 of the Commerce Commission (Rent Increase Restriction on residential and Ground Rent) Order, 2016 (published as Legal Notice 117 of 2016) restricts any person from charge a rent on a premises under any tenancy that exceeds the rent applicable on that premises as at 2^nd March, 2017.

This could also mean a breach of Section 45 of the Commerce Commission Act 2010 (CCA2010). Excluded from this restriction are the rentals of Public Rental board flats.

 

2. Restriction on Ground Rent Increases

Paragraph 2 of the Commerce Commission (Rent Increase Restriction on Residential and Ground Rent) Order, 2016 (published as a legal Notice 117 of 2016) restricts any person from charge a rent on a piece of land under any tenancy that exceeds the rent applicable on that parcel of land as at 2^nd March, 2017.

This could also mean a breach of Section 45 of the Commerce Commission Act 2010 (CCA2010). Excluded from this restriction are the rentals of ITLTB land, Rotuma Council lands ad Banabans lands.

 

3. Unfair tactics of increasing rent

Section 76 of CCA2010 prohibits any landlords from engaging in conducts against a tenant that would be deemed unfair or unreasonable under normal standard.

 

This includes the following

• Evicting tenants with the reason for renovation or refurbishments, only to let the same out to another tenant at an increased rent;
• Charging late payment fees on tenants without proper agreements;
• Increasing the number of occupants per flats and charge the same rate per occupants as previously done to a lesser number of occupants and in the process increased the total rental for the whole flat;
• Increasing rent to every new tenant that comes in to rent a given flat.

 

Any person (or class of persons) found engaging in any of the above mentioned conducts will be severely dealt with by the commission under the powers prescribed to it by the CCA2010 which may include a maximum ‘spot fine’ of $1,000 to a natural person or $3,000 to a body corporate; or criminal prosecution.

Advice to Landlords and tenants

The Commission urges both landlords and tenants to strictly observe the rent freeze currently in force and to be informed of the ‘NO DROP’ policy against anyone found breaching the rent freeze order or aids, abets, conspire or counsels a person to commit the breach.

This is a weekly column complied by the Fiji Commerce Commission in the hopes of raising awareness on what the FCC does so people can benefit from developing a better understanding. For more information/ details on Fiji Commerce Commission and Commerce Commission Decree 2010 visit website on http://wwwcommcomm.gov.fj or join us on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/commcomm.gov.fj

Credit: Commerce Commission, Fiji Sun, 13^th March, 2017.

Fiji’s Jet Set Town Boundary Extension

The Local Government Minister is yet to finalise his decision on the proposed extension of Nadi Town boundary, says Nadi Town Council special administrator Robin Ali.

Speaking at a trade seminar in Nadi over the weekend, Mr Ali said they held consultations and received submissions from people regarding the proposed extension and they had received mixed reactions.

“We have made an application to the minister to expand the boundary and we have identified the areas where we can go and provide services efficiently and most of the areas are developed but some facilities like drains and roads are not maintained,” he said.

“There is a local government committee and they have studied our proposal. They have had consultations, some have objected and some are happy. They have already made a report and the minister is yet to finalise this.”

He said the committee had advertised the proposal and time was given for the public to make submissions.

Regarding the declaration of Nadi as a city, Mr Ali said the present population of the jet set town was 12,000.

“To become a city the population needs to be over 20,000 in the boundary and to achieve that, we have to expand.

“We have got 12,000 so we have to really expand. Our peri-urban areas have got twice the population of that within the town boundary.

“We have to include them so we can address issues they face, for example garbage disposal services because there is no garbage collection system in peri-urban areas now.”

He said drainage was another issue faced by people in peri-urban areas.

“The Nadi Rural Local Authority is unable to address those issues on their own so we have to come in and we think we will be able to do it with the support of the Nadi Chamber of Commerce and other corporate bodies in Nadi.”

The proposed extension revealed last year included Waimalika to Legalega, Nasoso and Naisosovu Island as well as residents and businesses between Votualevu and Malawai.

The third proposed area was subdivided into two and these include lots within Wailoaloa, Enamanu, Navakai and part of Cawa.

Credit: Shayal Devi, Fiji Times, March 06, 2017

 

Affordable Homes For All in Fiji

In this day and age, even the thought of buying a house would seem impossible for some but things could become a whole lot simple if there are companies that are able to provide affordable housing.

A company which officially opens its operations in Fiji today promises to offer affordable, innovative, fit for purpose, safe and compliant housing across New Zealand, Fiji and the South Pacific.

TRENZ Homes Fiji is the nominated channel partner for TRENZ Homes NZ and is owned and operated in Fiji by Nemani Tueli.

Mr Tueli said Kitset Homes NZ Ltd trading as TRENZ Homes was established in October 2005 and is a family operated business.

“TRENZ Homes currently has a network of 23 licensee owned territories spread across New Zealand, Fiji and the rest of the South Pacific,” he said.

Mr Tueli said with the small team of 10 staff based in Whangarei (Northland), the TRENZ Homes Support Office offers the licensee network full administrative support through design and procurement of all quality materials and products required to construct healthy and robust homes.

“Recently, we came to understand that the Government has many projects to rehouse many rural families following Cyclone Winston (February 7, 2016) in addition to a general desire to continue with their Rural Housing Program to upgrade much of the existing housing stock to an acceptable level, which offers their people safe, sanitary, well designed housing to improve their lifestyle.

“Included in TRENZ Homes Fiji packages will be well-designed NZ made septic drainage systems which allows the treated water to be used to irrigate crops and solar power systems which allows them to tap into this natural abundant resource to help reduce the ongoing costs of running their new homes,” said Mr Tueli.

Mr Tueli said their vision was that through this ongoing relationship, they would fundamentally change the Fijian housing landscape through innovative designs using reliable and quality New Zealand materials, products and services.

“We believe that with our strong market presence in New Zealand and throughout the South Pacific, we are well positioned to make affordable, quality homes a reality in Fiji.”

He said the company was committed to a long-term and continuing relationship with Fiji and the Fijian people, becoming a preferred supply partner to deliver TRENZ Homes throughout Fiji, using local friendships to bring the benefits of our NZ building industry experience to understand and meet the needs and requirements of the local market; driven by the common desire to provide healthy, robust and affordable housing for local customers.

According to Mr Tueli, TRENZ Homes favoured New Zealand made products and services, having established strong relationships with a number of large national companies through preferred supply partnership agreements over the years.

“Our extended New Zealand team of contractors consist of five architectural designers, in-house

quantity surveyors and our contracted structural engineer, who spent eight years working in Fiji before returning to NZ, now operating out of Auckland.”

Mr Tueli said TRENZ Homes Fiji was fully aware of the presence of other home solutions in Fiji and was entering the local market with a raft of competitive home solutions.

As well as offering one to five bedroom homes, they also offer mini resort, time shares and backpackers solutions.

“Our homes are based on best practice home construction methods used in New Zealand to withstand the test of time.

“While leveraging on the proven and tested New Zealand designs, we are infusing and integrating as much tropical Fijian flavour as practicable, while preserving the robustness of our housing solutions.

“Our home solutions typically take up to three months to complete on your site, fully incorporating 21st Century designs and finishing.

“All solutions are Category 5 cyclone certified, available in both timber and steel frame.

“Steel framing is a viable solution to the threat of termites (also ease of handling and packing into containers).”

The company also believes that its designs are supplied flat packed and are easy to assemble, while optimised for maximum strength and durability.

They also improve space utilisation, ensuring logistical flow in the house and capitalise on tropical lighting, heat and air circulation and infuse tasteful, modern contemporary design.

Credit: Monika Singh, Fiji Times, 11 March 2017