A major effort to close off loopholes in the Housing Authority of Fiji’s policies is currently being undertaken by the Minister for Housing and Community Development, Premila Kumar.

Mrs Kumar has acknowledged that a number of low income earners had found loopholes within their regulations to benefit from the subsidised lots that the Housing Authority sold to them.

Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Ashneel Sudhakar has highlighted a number of breaches by tenants leasing Crown Land which is costing Government money.

One of the most serious breaches is Condition Nine of leasing agriculture land. This Condition requires that at least 50 per cent of the leased land be planted with crops within the first two years of the lease and a minimum of 75 per cent of the land be planted with crops within four years of the date of issuance of the lease and for the remainder of the lease term.

“During our inspection we have found out that some lessees have obtained agricultural leases and are not cultivating it as per the above condition or at all. In some cases, people have left land idle for over 20 years,” he said.

“This is causing substantial loss to the agriculture sector and the economy as a whole. In these cases, no rent is paid to the Ministry because the lessee had abandoned the land and there is no productive use of the land.”

He said the most common breach they found was non-payment of rental.

“As per the lease condition, lessees are required to pay their rental by two equal half yearly payments not later than the last day of January and July in each and every year,” he said.

“This rental is subject to reassessment every five years. The lessees are advised that once they fail to make their rental payment on time they will be subjected to interest on the arrears as high as 12 per cent per annum. Arrears and interest keep on accumulating.

“Any application for consent by the lessee such as sale, transfer and subletting will require them to clear their arrears with interest which can cause delay in processing their applications.”

Mr Sudhakar said that condition two of the lease agreement they have with the lessee stipulates that the lessee shall not transfer, sublet, mortgage assign or part with the possession of the whole or any part of the demised land.

“If you are a lessee of a state lease, you must have the written consent of the Director of Lands before occupying, building, cultivating, selling, renting out,” he added.

He added that they have found that lessees constantly breach these terms in creating tenancies which is causing delay in lease renewals since we are unable to identify the rightful person to issue the lease to.

Mr Sudhakar said that condition six of the lease requires only such building shall be erected on the demised land as are necessary for a dwelling or dwellings for the lessee.

“We have found out that lessees are allowing families as well as outsiders to build on agricultural land for cash or reward which is causing land for farming to diminish,” he said.

Mr Sudhakar said that condition 16 requires that the lessee shall not subdivide the lease without the written consent of the lessor first had and obtained.

“People who buy State land without Director of Lands consent are warned that they are breaking the law and could be liable for fines and penalties such dealings will not be recognised by the Lands

“Lessees who breach conditions of the lease issued to them by the State open themselves up to re entry and cancellation of lease by the Director of Lands.

They are also liable to pay penalties, Mr Sudhakar warned.

Edited by Susana Tuilau

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Sa digitaki o Timoci Lesikivatukoula Natuva me sa iliuliu vou ni Bose ni Yasana o Naitasiri.

E vakadeitaka mai oqo kina SigaVou na gusu ni vosa ni Tabacakacaka iTaukei (iTaukei Affairs Board – TAB) o Alipate Natoba.

“Sa mai taura nona ivola ni nona ilesilesi ena macawa sa oti na turaga Minisita vakacegu o Timoci Natuva mera sa iliuliu ni Matabose ni Yasana o Naitasiri,” e tukuna o Natoba.

A taura tu na itutu oqo o Alivereti Nabulivou, ia e sa kerea na nona vakacegu mai nai to vakapolitiki ka veiliutaki tiko ena gauna oqo na FijiFirst, ni a sega ni digitaki me dua o koya na mata vakaturi ena veidigidigi sa oti. E sa lewena tiko na soqosoqo vakapolitiki na Unity Fiji ena gauna oqo.

Ena 2014, e a rawata o Natuva e dua na idabedabe ni FijiFirst ka digitaki sara me Minisita ni Veitaqomaki kei na Curu Vanua (Minister for National Security and Defence and Immigration) ena vula o Seviteba.

Ena Okosita ni 2016 era sa kerea na nodra vakacegu ni ra sa vinakata mera laki tu vata ga kei na nodra matavuvale. E a sosomitaki ira o Howard Politini.

O Natuva, e dua na Kanala vakacegu mai na Mataivalu ni Viti (Republic of Fiji Military Forces – RFMF). E a laki vuli ena Deakin University mai Ositerelia ka rawata mai kina na koroi cecere na Master of Arts in Strategic Studies.

Mai na 1989–1990, e a veiliutaki tiko vei iratou na 2FIR mai Sainiai. Era taura na itutu vaka Chief Operations Officer Civil Military Affairs ena United Nations Transitional Administration mai East Timor mai na 1992 -1993, taura na itutu vaka Military Advisor vua na UN Secretary General mai Afghanistan kei Pakistan.

Ena 2001, era a taura na itutu vaka Chief-of-Staff ni United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Ena 2007 era a digitaki mera Contingent Commander ni First Fiji Infantry Regiment, Fiji Guard Unit ni United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).

Era a vuli mai na koronivuili e Sawani koro ka laki tosoya sara ki na Lelean Memorial School.

Ko Natuva, e a vuli talega mai na Royal Australian Naval College, Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies mai Honolulu, Naval kei na Post Graduate School e Monterey, California. E lewena talega na Fellow of the Australian Defence College of Strategic Studies mai Canberra, Australia.

Ena gauna oqo era tiko ena Minisitiri ni Veitaqomaki.

E saga na Siga Vou me veivosaki kei ira ia era tiko vakacakacaka mai valagi ena gauna oqo.

Na imatai ni bose ni yasana o Naitasiri ena yabaki oqo, ena vakayacori mai Vuidawa mai nai ka 18 – 19 ni Evereli.

Eratou vakaraitaka mai na Tabacakacaka iTaukei ni na rawa ni na veisau na tiki ni siga kevaka ena gadreva na iliuliu ni matabose.

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Evakaraitaka na jemeni ni Bose ni Yasana o Cakaudrove, o Ratu Jekesoni Yavalanavanua ni sa bera ni vakadeitaki tiko na imatai ni bose ena yabaki oqo.

Na bose, e tukuna ni na vakayacori ena Maji se Evereli ka na qai vakadeitaki vakamalua na vula kei na tiki ni siga.

Ni taroga na Siga Vou se cava na ituvatuva eratou na gadreva me sagai, e tukuna me sa na tara tale na valenivolavola ni yasana e Savusavu.

Na Valenivolavola ni Yasana

Na valenivolavola ni yasana, e tukuna, e a kama ena vula ko Jiune ena 2017.

Eratou na kerekere ki na Valenivolavola ni Paraiminisita (Office of the Prime Minister – OPM) ke rawa ni na veivuke vakailavo ena kena tara.

Ena gauna oqo, e tukuna ni ko ira na cakacaka ena valenivolavola ni yasana era vakayagataka tikoga e dua na rumu ka sa lailai kivei ira.

Na Bose

Sa na laki vakayacori na imatai ni bose ena na koro vakaturaga o Saqani e Cakaudrove.

Na iotioti ni bose ni yasana ena yabaki sa oti, e tukuna, ni a vakayacori mai Somosomo, Taveuni, ka vakadonui kina nai tuvatuva vakailavo ni bose ni yasana ena 2019 – 2020.

Na Qele

Ena bose talega oqo, e vakarai- taka kina vei ira na lewe ni bose na kena sa lutu na bulabula ni qele e Taveuni, ka ra sega ni rawata na nodra takete ni dalo volitaki ko ira na dau teitei.

Na tikina oqo, e sa soli kivei iratou na Tabana ni Teitei me ratou dikeva, ka ratou tukuna me sa vakacegui na qele baleta ni sa oca.

Na Vakabulabula ni Qele

E dua talega na ka e sa oti kina na bulabula ni qele, sai kovya na kena vakayagataki nai vakabulabula ni qele e voli mai.

Sa veivakasalataki na Tabana ni Teitei ena tikina oqo me sa cegu na vakayagataki ni vakabulabula ni qele e voli mai na sitoa ka vayagataki na deni manumanu.

Na bose talega e Saqani, ena tuvani kina na ituvatuva ni otioti ni bose ena yabaki oqo ka na vakayacori e Suva.

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Era sa cakacaka vakaukauwa mai Ucunivanua, Verata, Tailevu, ena kena vakadodoki na paipo ni wai, me yaco ki na koro ni sa bera ni ra qarava na Bose ni Yasana o Tailevu ena vula o Veverueri.

E tukuna mai ki na Siga Vou na turaganikoro o Ratu Sevanaia Verata, ni ra sa tekivuna na nodra vakarautaka na Bose ni Yasana ia era na gadreva vakalevu na wai me yaco ki na koro ni sa bera na bose.

E dau leqa na wai e Ucunivanua, ia e sega ni dua na matanitu e saga na kena cakacakataki. E tukuna o Ratu Sevanaia, ni a raica na leqa ni wai na Turaga Paraiminisita o Voreqe Bainimarama ka vakauta yani na sovea me sa dua na so ni wai vinaka.

Na leqa ni wai e Ucunivanua e sa na oti ni sa na dola na paipo ena koro.

Tei e 4000 na yaqona

Sa tei oti e 4000 na yaqona ena 36 na iteitei mai Lomaji, Matuku, Lau. Era sa lako tale ki Moala me laki voli tale mai kina eso na nodra itei.

Na tei yaqona oqo, e sa tiko na kena vakatatabu ka sa masulaki talega.

Na porokaramu ni tei yaqona oqo e cakacaka vata kina na vanua, lotu kei na matanitu ka tolu na yabaki na kena dede.

E nodra takete ena dua na yabaki me tei e 450 na buke yaqona ena dua na iteitei.

Vakabulabulataki na tei raisi e Rewa

Sa na saga na Tabana ni Teitei me na vakabulabulataka na tei raisi ena vanua bucabuca e Rewa.

E levu era sa tei raisi tiko, ia sa gadrevi me tei vakalevu me qai bisinisitaki. Sa laurai ni levu na qele vinaka ni raisi era lala tu. Era sa solia talega na nodra veitokoni na iTaukei ni qele.

Vakatarogi na lako ki Mereke

Era sa vakatataro tiko ko ira na lewenivanua era sa vakadouya mera na lako ki cakacaka ki Mereke, ena veivosaki e vakayacora tiko e dua na marama, se gauna cava era na qai lako kina.

Era sa solia na nodra pasipote kei na so na ilavo. Sa vakasalataki ira na Minisita ni Cakacaka o Parveen Bala mera kua ni vakarorogo kina baleta ni sa tiko na nona kisi ena valeniveilewai ena nona lasutaki ra tiko na lewenivanua.

Na lako ki cakacaka ki Mereke ena sega ka sa tiko ena ligadratou na ovisa ena gauna oqo na marama ka liutaka tiko nai lawalawa kara vunau wavoki tiko oqo.

Ena rua na macawa sa oti era a tiko mai Taveuni.

Robust forward Apenisa Cakaubalavu has claimed a spot in the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s final 12-member squad for the Sydney 7s that gets underway at the Spotless Stadium in Australia today.

The Naroi native of Moala, Lau, is renowned for his ball hunting skills, tough defence and speed. He’s tasked to pressure the opposition defence and will be at the breakdown to contest possession.

Cakaubalavu takes over from veteran prop Paula Dranisinukula, who is the 13th player.

Head coach Gareth Baber told the Fiji Sun yesterday, that it was tough decision not to select Cakaubalavu in last week’s New Zealand 7s.

“Apenisa has been working very hard at training and pushing the squad to produce their best,” Baber said.

“He has again proven himself on the field this week and we know he can do the job that needs to be done this weekend.”

Cakaubalavu was one of the unsung heroes when the Fijian 7s team won the Cape Town 7s in South Africa last December.

The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) has urged tenants to demand receipts for payment of rent because it is proof of payment.

FCCC chief executive officer Joel Abraham said tenants should ensure they have a written agreement with their landlord with clear conditions in order to avoid unwarranted hassles later.

Gayle Manueli dropped out of university in 2011 because of unforeseen circumstances.

She did odd jobs while trying to resume studies and never lost hope in her dream to become a lawyer.

Ms Manueli resumed studies, but took another break to raise her infant son.

Her passion for studies never waned and she promised herself that she would fulfil her dream.

Yesterday a tearful Ms Manueli relayed her story to the Fiji Sun at the Grand Pacific Hotel after she was admitted to the Bar, saying that she hoped to be an inspiration to young women and mothers.

She was proud, however, that despite taking eight years to graduate as a lawyer and be admitted to the Bar, she had fulfilled her dream.

“I started studying in the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of the South Pacific in 2011, but in the midst of this I had to take a break to raise my son with my husband,” Ms Manueli said.

“While I was studying, I also had to drop out and find a job due to some unforeseen circumstances. I had to pay for my university fees and there were many odds jobs which I came across.”

After Ms Manueli gave birth to her son, she took off one year to take care of her child.

“Even when I was doing my Bar admission it was so hard because I was breastfeeding and taking care of Henry Serulagilagi, my son,” she said.

“I hope to inspire other women and mothers to not give up on your dreams. “Keep pushing forward and I assure you, that one day you will get there.”

“I will be gone for some time; please take care of the babies.”
Australian national John Nikolic allegedly told his wife, Yvette Nikolic, this after their yacht Shenanigans was searched by Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) last year.

The words were repeated at the High Court in Suva yesterday by the prosecution’s ninth witness, FRCS senior customs and investigating officer for drug enforcement unit, Vasiti Toga, who overheard the conversation between John Nikolic and his wife.

Thirteen bars of illicit drugs were allegedly found on their yacht. The couple appeared before Justice Daniel Goundar yesterday for the fifth day of their trial.

The prosecution was represented by Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions lawyers Yogesh Prasad and Shelyn Kiran and Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Lee Burney.

The two defence lawyers are from Lautoka-based Gordon and Company law firm. Ronald Gordon represented Yvette Nikolic, while successful and well known horse trainer John Nikolic is represented by Wasu Pillay.

The charges:

The couple are facing two counts each for importing illicit drugs, possessing illicit drugs and one count of possessing arms and ammunition without holding an arms licence.

For importing an illicit drug, it is alleged that that the couple, without lawful authority, imported illicit drugs namely cocaine weighing 12.9 kilograms and methamphetamine tablets weighing 34.4 grams.

For possessing an illicit drug, it is alleged that the couple, without lawful authority, had in their possession illicit drugs namely cocaine weighing 12.9 kilograms and methamphetamine tablets weighing 34.4 grams. The estimated values of the illicit drugs are between $20 million and $30 million.

For the count of possessing arms and ammunition without holding an arms licence, it is alleged that the couple had in their possession arms and ammunition namely two pistols and 112 rounds of ammunition without holding an arms licence.

The incident allegedly took place in June 2018, at Port Denarau Marina, Nadi.

Trial Day 5:

Ms Toga recalled that on June 22, 2018, at Port Denarau Marina in Nadi, after the search was conducted and 13 bars of illicit drugs were found, John Nikolic had asked to speak to his wife and crew members, saying they were not aware of the items on board.

She told the court that she accompanied John Nikolic to see Yvette Nikolic at the wheelhouse of the yacht where John Nikolic spoke to his wife.

She recalled that John Nikolic had told Yvette Nikolic that a “Colombian mariner had hid something in the bag” and that he “owed a lot of money to some very dangerous people and this was the only way to pay them”.

Ms Toga further added that she heard John Nikolic tell Yvette Nikolic that he “will be gone some time” and told her to “please take care of the babies”.

She recalled that she had seen John Nikolic crying while Yvette Nikolic asked him why “did he do this?”

Ms Toga then told the court that John Nikolic asked to use the washroom. After returning from the washroom, she told the court that John Nikolic asked for a pen and paper to write his statement. She handed the pen and paper to senior Customs officer Fenton Williams and informed Mr Williams that she was going to prepare some documents related to what was found on the yacht.

As she was walking away, she heard Mr Williams call out for help. She rushed back and saw Yvette Nikolic crying and John Nikolic lying on a bench, unconscious.

Medical assistance was sought from nearby yachts while Yvette Nikolic asked to go to the washroom. When she returned from the washroom, she was carrying a small plastic container and informed the Customs officers that there must have been something in the plastic which John Nikolic had consumed.

Ms Toga told the court that after John Nikolic was taken to the hospital, the team searched the yacht and found two packages containing pistols, ammunitions, US currency and tablets. She was asked by Justice Goundar to count the notes, after which she told him that the three bundles before her was $15,000 of US currency.

She also told the court that the revolver was fully loaded and concealed in the packages found.

The trial has been adjourned and will resume on Monday.

Edited by Percy Kean

Permanent Secretaries’ role

Timoci Gaunavinaka, Nausori

The Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama hit the nail on the head when he told Government Permanent Secretaries that it is their duty to set the record straight and correct any misinformation stated in the media on any issue regarding their various ministries.

They are paid over a hundred thousand dollars per annum each for their jobs and they should know exactly what is happening in each of their ministries because that is what good management and good governance requires. They must ensure that they are updated regularly and accurately by their subordinates on every development or issue of national interest or of national significance involving their ministries.

In the past four years it is common that many of them remain silent or make very unconvincing statements sometimes leading to more public confusion in regard to various issues regarding their various ministries.

May I also suggest that they regularly leave their comfort zones and visit and meet their various stakeholders to directly enlighten themselves to what actually transpires on the ground.

Every governance system is exposed to some sort of bureaucratic process that sometimes results in bottlenecks.

Regular visits to stakeholders by Permanent Secretaries who actually manages the whole ministry can easily iron out any miscommunication or clear any misunderstanding on any pending or potential issue.

The same should apply to every head and senior management of Government subsidiaries like Energy Fiji Limited, Land Transport Authority, Housing Authority, iTaukei Land Trust Board and so on.

If the Prime Minister can ride horses, cross rivers on foot, sail for days by boat and climb hills to visit our various rural communities, then there is no reason why these Permanent Secretaries cannot do the same.

Faith and school

Simon Hazelman, Savusavu
This solicitation by the Catholic and Methodist churches to have their own faith based teachers, I believe, has nothing to do with the education of our children, but everything to do with religion.

Both these two church denominations are simply worried about the declining numbers in their churches. They have come to realise that their numbers are dwindling and they are desperate to try and grow back their congregation.

It has become a normal practice now for many Fijians to enrol their children into Hindu and Muslim schools simply because many believe their children will receive a better education in these schools instead of at public or Christian schools.

So in retrospect the Catholic and Methodist churches have a lot to improve on in both its religious and education duties.

Having faith based teachers will make no difference if your religious outreach and education methodology has become ineffective!

Catholic Education

Ronnie Chang, Nadi

If true democracy is alive, well and vibrant in Fiji, if the internationally acclaimed “talanoa session” really applies, if the “vuvale partnership” exists, then something is re- ally amiss on our own so-called friendly shores. Respectfully, I beg to differ with the Right Honourable, the Prime Minister without fear, favour or rancour.

The real issue here is the manner in which our respected principals from our two Western Division Catholic secondary schools were transferred from their positions and the reasons offered by Permanent Secretary for Education, Heritage and Arts Alison Burchell and her consultant.

The pride, honour, respect and dignity of many of our faithful is hurt immensely.

In GOD’s time we will rise up again. We were sorely tested before.
We are being truly tested again.
We will overcome.

Governments and leaders will come and go. Life will “ebb and flow” like the daily tides. Our Catholic faith, her age old teachings, and undying educational processes with much dignity, will survive.

Education goes far beyond so-called primary, secondary and tertiary peripheral boundaries….it is almost never-ending.

Although we are in the minority, in that Fiji Catholics make up almost 10 percent of the population, we have been pioneers in the field of Fiji education, unsurpassed proud owners of 44 primary and 19 secondary schools. We have contributed handsomely in Fiji to the education of thousands upon thousands of non-Catholics.

Many became political leaders. Many are our leaders today. You will acknowledge. Many more will follow.

It is also acknowledged our critics will remain.

That’s life. We are humans; mere mortals; we are all sinners and have human limitations, weaknesses and failures. I am no exception. Serving our fellow men is never easy. Often thankless.

It is virtually impossible to please everyone, all the time.

We are taught, “Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.”

Setting Pace

Pranil Ram, Nadi
I am sure all the Fijian 7s fans are eagerly awaiting for the start of Sydney Sevens this week. Judging from the media reports the players and the coach are also excited about the tournament.

Winning in Sydney will be very special but by no means it will be an easy one. Teams are going to target our weak areas.

A win is going to set the record of winning three consecutive tournaments and also position us well in winning the overall series.

It is all going to be about pressure rugby from now, with the huge expectation from the fans, the players must be feeling the heat.

This week the team is going to face the litmus test of sevens rugby and if they are going to survive this they could be remembered as one of the greatest teams of recent times.

There is no doubt that there are some people who genuinely live their lives as squatters but as the Fiji Sun investigation has revealed there are many who are taking advantage of their illegal squatter status.

The Fiji Sun has found out that there are squatters who have extended their homes on the land, rented it out and people who have taken up the rented space do so hoping that when the squatters are given leases, they can also ride on it.

We have also found out that people are selling off their homes in squatter settlements to others. This is of course done without any legal paperwork.

Minister for Housing and Community Development Premila Kumar has a big task on her hand. She and her team need to filter out those who do not deserve Government’s assistance from those who really do.

She revealed to the Fiji Sun that while these people are living in the informal settlements illegally, the level of in fighting between them has been delaying Government’s work in regularising those settlements.

She shared with us the story of a teacher who resides in one of the squatter settlements. This lady went on to fence off a common driveway to stop others from using it.

She wanted the Minister to intervene and stop people from using the driveway. She cannot do that. The teacher has no legal rights on the land in the first place.

There have also been issues where the people in these settlements complain that the piece of land leased to them is smaller compared to what they were used to when living illegally in the settlements. This is outrageous.

The Government is going out of its way to give leases to these people.

Land is given to them free and they only have to continue with the payment of the annual land rent. Some do not even want to do that.

They have gotten so used to living free on the land which is not theirs that they do not want to start paying the land rent.

SODELPA Members of Parliament have stood in Parliament questioning the delays in regularising the squatter settlements.

These are some of the reasons why there is a delay. Granted that not all living in those conditions are happy with it and appreciate the Government leg up given to them but unless everyone does their own bit too, we will be going around in circles.

People who want to buy or rent out in squatter areas need to understand that they are opening themselves to the risk of living in houses built without any safety measures.

They are endangering the lives of their family members as well.

Residents in the Suva informal settlements are very lucky Tropical Cyclone Winston did not hit Suva.

A large percentage of homes in the Suva squatter settlements would not have withstood the strength of Winston or any other tropical cyclone for that matter.

While it is too easy to hold the Government accountable, let’s get real.

People need to move out of this free handout mentality if they are financially able to lease their own land and build their own homes.

By sticking it out in the squatter settlements, these people are cheating the system.

They are cheating another Fijian who really needs Government assistance.

They are cheating the taxpayers and the Government who would otherwise use their limited resources elsewhere, where it is really needed.

Let’s take a long hard look at ourselves. After all, charity begins at home.

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