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 (October 30th, 2019), iTLTB chief executive officer Tevita Kuruvakadua says that there is evidence that land has been extracted but TLTB was not aware at all.

Background:

Sokonaia Rogose, the landowner from Tau Village, at Momi, claims he has records showing over 1000 truckloads of mud, each carrying around 11 cubic metres, being taken to be offloaded at the resort site.

Mr Rogose said he has taken the matter further to the Prime Minister’s Office as he wanted to be compensated.

The CP Group out of New Zealand, trading under Pandey Investments (Fiji) Limited, had acquired the site which previously was home to Seashell Cove Resort.

In its place, Pandey Investments planned to build the $80 million Sofitel SO Resort.

This would have further developed on its property links with the Accor Hotel Group in Fiji through its Novotel and Mercure brands.

Work started last year on dismantling most of the old structure for Seashell Cove Resort by contractors MAH Enterprises (Fiji) Limited. However, due to what is believed to have been some contractual dispute, work stopped sometimes in November 2018 and nothing has been done since.

TLTB response:

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

Mr Herbert’s company was given the task by C.P. Group the owner of the freehold property at Momi to manage the landfilling 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.

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

Second project:

• Another planned project set on the same location is the Momi Town by the Sea. Details earlier announced said;
• The town, which will be the hub of Momi will have a modern-day shopping complex that will include restaurants, bars, close to 10 shops and a 50- apartment block building.
• The apartments would all be self-contained.
• There were plans to house an authentic Fijian restaurant on the hill overlooking the town.
• The main concept of the town is creating a link between the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay and the soon-to-be-built  Sofitel SO at the former Sea Shell Cove site.
• It is an investment of close to $30 million.

About Pandey Investments (Fiji) Limited

The C.P Group, trading under Pandey Investments (Fiji) Limited, presently owns 100 per cent of Novotel Suva Lami Bay Hotel and is developing the $80 million hotel in Momi Bay, near Nadi.

The group also owns 50 per cent of Novotel and Mecure hotels in Nadi, in a partnership with the Tappoo Group.

C.P. Group, owned by one of New Zealand’s wealthiest families – the Pandey family – is described as a multi-level, global diversified property development and investment corporation.

Feedback:  charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj