Minister Vosarogo urges fair sharing of land benefits

Trustees of the Nakovacake Development Trust have been reminded that benefits from future land development must be shared equally among landowners.

Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo, handed over the second foreshore lease title to the vanua o Nakovacake at Navoci Village in Nadi last Friday.

Mr Vosarogo presented the lease for Nasaulevu Development Holdings Pte Limited to the trustees in their capacity as representatives of the tokatoka of the vanua o Nakovacake.

He said the lease covered 376 acres of fishing grounds belonging to the vanua, established and guaranteed by the iTaukei Lands and Fisheries Commission in Narewa in December 1961.

“The importance of your fishing grounds is to provide food for your families, the church and all functions of the vanua.

Today, that concept has expanded, with our iqoliqoli also serving as a source of income through business development,” Mr Vosarogo said.

He said the hand-over was aligned with Fiji’s National Development Plan, which recognises land as a critical national asset and emphasising inclusive economic growth and empowerment of indigenous communities.

“We are confident this will benefit your families and your vanua.”

Mr Vosarogo said pre-construction work, including planning and assessment, would begin to ensure design, cost and scheduling were properly defined.

“What Government requires is that everything is done transparently and that all earnings from this development are shared equally among landowners.”

Nakovacake consists of 1700 members who reside in Navoci and Namotomoto villages. This land-owning unit owns three-quarters of the land where Nadi Town sits.

Nakovacake has three clans (yavusa)- Tukani, Noneiqoro and Botilivuka with 14 sub-clans (tokatoka).

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