The iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) has provided an option for clans (mataqali) with less lease monies.

TLTB general manager, Tevita Kuruvakadua said while distributing lease monies was encouraged as per the requirements of Decree on Equal Rent Distribution, clans with many numbers and little lease monies, due to less number of leases were given an option.

He said the option was to make use of the `Assignment of lease funds’ provisions available on section 14 (3) (e) of the Decree on Equal Rent Distribution and it reads  –  (3) Before any balance shall be distributed pursuant to the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) the Board shall discharge out of the moneys received – (e) with the consent of the Fijian owners whether given before or after 4 December 1970 which consent shall operate as an assignment of rents irrevocable until the total amount is paid, any amount due and unpaid in connection with any scheme approved by the Minister for the benefit of the Fijian owners.

Mr Kuruvakadua said all that was required of mataqali that opted for this was to write a request letter to the board.

“They are to attach their meeting minutes and get their members (above 18 years) to sign and endorse their proposal,” he said.

The assignment of their lease monies, he said, were considered on a case by case basis and focused on projects that would benefit all its current and future mataqali members.

He said the board mostly considered requests by assignments towards housing schemes, establishments of mataqali business, repayments towards projects or loans that had already been committed prior to the commencement of the equal distribution policy.

Edited by Maikeli Seru

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