Shine A Light: Provincial Council Calls For Change In Namosi

• Shine A Light is a Fiji Sun Investigative Project and is supported by Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalists' Network (PACJN).

The people of Namosi want change. For 27 years, the province’s commercial company has not produced any tangible benefits for the people.

Questions of misuse of money and corrupt practices have emerged.

Namosi Development Company Limited (NDCL) is the commercial arm of the Namosi Provincial Council (NPC) – established to financially help develop the province. This was part of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Government’s legislative actions in the “Blueprint for Protection of Fijian & Rotuman Rights & Interests, and Advancement of their Development”.

The company was registered with the Registrar of Companies on August 4, 1994.

There have been numerous calls made during annual general meetings for a change in the shareholding structure. But to no avail.

“There is no strong link between the people and the company,” Fiji Landowners Nature Keepers Network acting director and Namosi villager Joe Tauleka, said.

Former Namosi district representative to the NDCL, Farasiko Saunivalu, said he was unaware of the activities of the company when he was representing the district in 2013 to 2019.

“There were a lot of things that were not made clear during company meetings,” Mr Saunivalu said.

To question the operation of the company is seen as disrespectful simply because Ratu Suliano Matanitobua is the chief of the province.

Ratu Suliano is the highest chief in Namosi. He is also a member of the main opposition party, the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA). Those who were once part of the company, who had dared to raise questions about its operations, were removed.

Ratu Suliano and three others were the initial shareholders of the company. They are listed as:

• Kiniviliame Taukenikoro (now deceased) – He was the former chairman of the Namosi Provincial Council and Member of Parliament. he was from the village of Wainimakutu, tikina Naqarawai;
• Samisoni Tuilawaki (now deceased) – He was the former Roko for the province and hailed from Nakavu Village, tikina Veivatuloa. None of his children succeeded him; and
• Leone Tovutokana (now deceased) – He is the former secretary of the Namosi Development Company. He hailed from Nakavika Village, tikina Wainikoroiluva.

“They run the operation and are basically the owners of the company,” Mr Tauleka said.

But past annual reports indicate that the five tikinas are also shareholders in the Namosi Development Company Limited.

While most from Namosi generally understand the purpose of the company, they don’t see the impact of development projects within the province.

The problem of transparency and lack of accountability regarding the use of finances is something that is often discussed – but only in informal settings.

Efforts to get a comment from Ratu Suliano, the only living shareholder since the establishment of the company, were unsuccessful.

However, during the course of gathering information for this story, he called Shine A Light and requested that the story not be published. He did not explain further except to say that they are considering not holding the annual provincial soli in the future.

He also indicated that they were looking to hold a company meeting when COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Current company secretary Maika Soqonaivi declined to comment. Mr Soqonaivi succeeded his father Mr Taukenikoro as a shareholder of the company.

Efforts to get a comment from Basilio Cakaunivalu were also unsuccessful. Like Mr Soqonaivi, Mr Cakaunivalu succeeded his father, the late Mr Tovutokana.

Questions sent to the Acting Roko for the provincial council, Epi Dokonivalu were referred to Ratu Suliano.

The incident emerged even while the company was making accumulated losses – and very little profit.

At the time, the company had defaulted in loan payment for the construction of the Namosi House in Suva in Amy Street, Toorak, Suva and Ro Matanitobua House in Navua. Namosi House is rented out by the Government. It houses the Ministry of Health’s main headquarters.

The company was on the verge of winding up. To avoid what would be an embarrassing situation, the company used the $100,000 raised by the province in 2000 to help construct the Ro Matanitobua House to clear the debt.

Normally, the province raises money through its annual provincial soli (fundraising). Each village in five tikinas (districts) raise money with a budget provided by the provincial council.

The Namosi House located along Toorak Rd, Suva. Photo: Leon Lord

“As shareholders, the Provincial Councils must ensure that effective oversight is provided to these Companies for accountable operations,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“These include mandatory reporting via structured channels both internally and externally, annual general meetings are carried out, robust planning on strategies for sustainable business growth and management of key strategic risks etc.”

He said efforts were in progress to restore, strengthen and maintain the cordial business relationships between the Provincial Councils and its commercial arms.

He gave the example of the Macuata Provincial Council.

It is now injecting $70,000 into the Council on an annual basis, reducing the provincial rates target from $1,000.00 to $500.00 per village.

“Gradually, the collaborative dialogue approach by iTaukei Affairs Board, Provincial Councils and Provincial Companies is expected to rear the initial set-up intent to fruition in the near future,” Mr Bainimarama said.

Edited by Rosi Doviverata

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