Momi landowners seek talks over resort land dispute

Traditional landowners of the Nahau sub-clan say they remain hopeful of resolving a long-running dispute over land occupied by the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay, despite a postponed meeting with the Ministry of Lands.

The dispute centres on a 2005 land-swap arrangement linked to the development of the Momi Bay tourism project.

A meeting facilitated by Viti Indigenous Tourism Alliance (VITA) president Sitiveni Nawaqa, scheduled for Monday, was postponed until later this week after the landowners did not attend.

Minister for Lands Filimoni Vosarogo said the absence resulted from a misunderstanding over the meeting date.

"I spoke with the Turaga Taukei Nahau, Sokonaia Rogosea and he said that there was a misunderstanding of the date of the Monday meeting and he apologised," Mr Vosarogo said yesterday.

Mr Rogosea welcomed the planned discussions but maintained that he did not want Mr Nawaqa representing the sub-clan.

"We don't like and don't want Siti (Mr Nawaqa) to be making any representative or discussions about this sub-clan because this is my clan," Mr Rogosea said.

"He told me about the discussions that were done at the ministry and I don't like it because we have our own grievances and a lawyer fighting this case."

Mr Nawaqa said he was involved in his capacity as president of VITA and chairman of the vanua o Nalolo, which comprises 15 sub-clans.

"I have no intention of making money out of this, and I never mentioned anywhere that I was representing the sub-clan," Mr Nawaqa said.

"According to the meeting, the Minister had relayed how the landowners would have had their land back, but it was unfortunate that they didn't attend.

"I immediately relayed that information to Mr Rogose because I believe it was encouraging news for his family. I was genuinely happy that progress appeared possible."

Mr Nawaqa said that despite what he described as baseless accusations, he was pleased the landowners could regain their rights to the land.

"Everything I have done was on voluntary basis because I genuinely wanted to assist," he said.

"I acknowledge that there have been differing views regarding my involvement; I fully respect tokatoka Nahau's decision to have its own representatives and legal counsel to manage its affairs. I accept that and have no intention of further involvement in their internal matters."