How the Tables Turn
Jan Nissar, Carlton
NSW, Australia
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There are reports that a prominent lawyer will take up the Opposition’s case to the Court of Disputed Returns in respect of the recent election results.
Unless I am mistaken, this same lawyer was the adviser and assistant to the ousted Prime Minister then, Dr Timoci Bavadra, during the “Events of May 1987”.
Due to this role as adviser to the ousted PM, he was almost hounded out of the country at the time.
He certainly was given a very hard time from reports. Perhaps he has forgotten because it was a long time ago?
Perhaps he should reflect on his welfare then compared to now.
How the tables have turned. This lawyer is now working towards putting the same man who raped democracy in charge of the same chamber where this atrocity was perpetrated.
What is even more mind-boggling is he was fighting against racist values because of the coups. He now has no problems with the Opposition’s policies of turning the clock back.
Dr Bavadra must be turning in his grave.
Letters favouritism
Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu
Favouritism seems to be with one of our local newspapers, as Allen Lockington seems to dominate the letters section.
Even if you send four to five letters a day, Allen’s seems to be the priority.
With issues of national interest are sometimes ignored and writers losing hope of writing because their letters will not be accepted are some factors that stops people from writing.
The writers buy newspapers daily thinking that their letters would be published, but to no avail, because Allen seems to be the only person writing.
Sorry if this letter might not be taken in good faith by some people, but this certain newspaper must be fair and give equal chances to all to voice their opinions through this column.
Nadi Landowners Speak out
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
Great story on Page 6 of the Fiji Sun, December 3 on the return to Yavusa Vucunisai, from the Yavusa e Tolu of the Vanua Nakovacake, of Nadi Schedule B land at Denarau Road namely Yavutu Maqalevu land.
It definitely calls for a celebration from their long drawn out struggles, perseverance and victory.
I have been involved with their Yavusa elder Rusiate Waqa since 2015 where I assisted in directing him through their desire, which have now finally paid dividends under the leadership of our Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and his chairmanship of the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) in compliance with our 2013 Constitution.
itaukei indigenous Fijian rights are safe and holistically protected in our World Acclaimed 2013 Constitution through its Bill of Rights where it safeguards and protects our identity and heritage.
The former Airports Fiji Limited employee, Rusiate Waqa, in his interview has rightly criticised SODELPA MP Niko Nawaikula who was the legal officer for the NLTB in 2004, but turned them away and could not help them with a solution citing his 1997 Constitution as a deterrent in its laws.
It is ironic that on the one hand Nawaikula is championing the protection of the iTaukei indigenous Fijian rights under the pretension of the obsolete 1997 Constitution to which Sitiveni Rabuka the SODELPA Opposition leader was the architect, but Nawaikula could not do it then, but how the hell on earth can he do it now with the 2013 Constitution in place.
I am delighted that the right-thinking majority iTaukei Fijian resource owners voted for the FijiFirst party because they did not like the idea of SODELPA dismantling the equal fair share of lease monies distribution introduced in 2015 by Mr Bainimarama in conforming to our 2013 Constitution.
It is every ordinary iTaukei Fijian constitutional right to equal lease distribution irrespective.
Thank you for the wonderful story Mr Waqa and God Bless the Yavusa Vucunisai dreams in realising your future commercial aspirations on your total revert- ed 226 acres of Prime Crown Land, but please utilise it wisely to help all your members equally.
I would like to challenge Mitieli Bulanauca, Ratu Naiqama, Mosese Bulitavu and Nawaikula to write a Letter to the Editor Fiji Sun in reply to justify and explain to the iTaukei landowners why their infamous racist 1997 Constitution was not relevant in 2004 where he could not procure a solution for the Yavusa Vucunisai land issue or was it the lack of political will and dirty divisive politics?
I also wish to encourage Niko Nawaikula and his team to consistently read our 2013 Constitution although they do not fancy the booklet, but it makes good reading, it also specifically empowers our iTaukei Fijian resource owners including Crown and Freehold property owners of their right to a fair share of mineral royalties mined below their land.
Those landowners from Nasomo Village, Vatukoula and Nawailevu, Naibulu and Votua Village, Bua have been granted their first Royalties payments where it has improved their lifestyle never recorded in our history post-independence.
Such royalties payments and rights are unheard of and is neither enshrined in Sitiveni Rabuka and Jai Ram Reddy’s now outdated 1997 Constitution.
The expulsion and dismissal of the Land Exchange Act from our 2013 Constitution is an Act of God in holistically protecting indigenous iTaukei Fijian rights and land.
Denarau landowners from Narewa Village including those relatives from Tau Village through the FNPF Marriott’s Momi Bay development have had their Prime iTaukei Land Reserves totally alienated through the Land Exchange Act of the 1970 and after the 1997 Constitutions respectively which is a Colonial Hangover although they have benefited short-term from the exchange deal.
Their five-yearly land reassessment period on their iTaukei prime land leases for those big time tourism land developments are worth endless trillions for their future generations than the meager and paltry peanuts they now earn from the Land Exchange deal instigated by the Sitiveni Rabuka SVT and the Laisenia SDL Government from which majority of those MPs involved are still in Parliament today through the SODELPA opposition party.
Beware iTaukei it is the wrong trust, why exchange your land for something worthless?
It is trickery, deception and dishonesty on the part of those past leadership,but our FijiFirst government party manifesto records it will enact a Law early next year to setup an Independent Lands Tribunal to effectively and efficiently address claims and allegations by iTaukei landowners and tenants against TLTB and the Lands Department, isn’t that transparency on the part of our government.
I ask all itaukei Fijians please read page 38 and 39 of the FF Manifesto plus also note that this government leadership have increased the iTaukei grant from $10million though our Brave 2018-2019 National Budget to a whopping $14mil- lion as publicly announced by our Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj
