The Fiji National Provident Fund board chair, Ajith Kodagoda, yesterday explained how the board overcame the resistance and roadblocks in the process of winning the confidence of landowners.

The relationship, in which the landowner communities of Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay had lost their trust and confidence as a result of ill-governance by previous developers, had been gained after a painful and frustrating process.

“We now have a cordial relationship with our landowner communities,” Mr Kodagoda said.

The Vanua of Nalolo had  now rectified the many unfulfilled promises made by the previous developer.

“We have built four village halls of Tau, Navutu, Bavu and Lomawai which was part of the unfulfilled promises by the previous developer,” Mr Kodagoda said.

The FNPF further also paid $1 million in goodwill to the landowners to make good and complete the process of land swap.

In preparation for the hotel opening, moreover, Mr Kodagoda said, FNPF engaged Fiji National University to train 47 youths from the six villages at the cost of $100,000.

“It is pleasing to note that the majority of these trainees are now employed by the hotel,” Mr Kodagoda said.

“We have also assisted the landowners in forming  a partnership with the bus company which has won the tender to transport hotel employees.”

The FNPF moreover, has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tokatoka Nahau, who are the landowners of the golf course.

Addressing the Tui Nalolo, Ratu Kini Vosailagi and the Vanua of Nalolo, Mr Kodagoda said the resort would showcase their vanua to the world.

But this apart the FNPF board has acknowledged the full support of the Government to make good on a bad investment, the product of which was now a beautiful property.

He said the resort resolved  a commitment to successfully turn-around and salvage an ill-advised investment from past leadership  that the Fund had entered into in 2004.

Mr Kodagoda explained furthermore the many reasons including poor governance, ill-conceived advice and mismanagement led selfish investors being able to feast over hard earned member savings.

“With the assistance and foresight of the current Government, we were able to institute a rehabilitation programmew for the investment,” he said.

Meanwhile, the project was accomplished under the $200milliom budget within deadline and it took 12 years to materialise, says Mr Kodagoda.

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