FiJILEAKS has been passed the following: "AG became very sick while on campaign trip which included Ba, Tavua and Ra. He was not present at Ra meeting on Tuesday. After Ba and Tavua meet, he became very sick and stayed back for two days at a Rakiraki resort. On Tuesday afternoon he was transported to Suva and around 11 pm admitted to Suva Private Hospital. Still admitted at Suva Private intensive care unit. Only close family members allowed."
VESIKULA - WHY WE CHANGED LAND OWNERSHIP:
Ratu Timoci Vesikula, Fijian Affairs Minister in Rabuka's government admits some native lands were changed to crown, and some later changed to freehold, but for good reasons. Now a Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) supporter, Rt Timoci said among these is the Denarau land where nine hotels are now situated. Rt Timoci said changes made to Denarau would not be argued by the landowners- the people of Narewa in Nadi as they are now reaping the benefits of the changes. “An undeveloped Denarau would give you scattered pieces of mangrove swamps,” Rt Timoci said. “Many have been said about what the Tui Cakau- Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and I did during our term. “We are chiefs in our own rights and we wouldn’t do anything to cause harm to our lands because the decrees will also include us and our land,” Rt Timoci told SODELPA followers during the party’s manifesto launch. He said because the islets at Denarau were scattered and this also meant that native lands, crown land and freehold lands were not grouped together, they had to change some leases to allow them to group lands of the same ownership type together. "To do this, the only way was to change some native land to crown and some to freehold and vice versa. “This enabled us to put all native lands together on a beachfront. “This is what you see now on Denarau Island, you have the native lands which are where the nine hotels like Hilton, Raddison, and Sheraton are all sitting, the crown lands are all on one spot and the freehold lands are all in another spot.” Rt Timoci said if that was not done, the people of Narewa would not be enjoying the lease money that they now receive from the nine hotels on Denarau. Source: Fijilive
Ratu Timoci Vesikula, Fijian Affairs Minister in Rabuka's government admits some native lands were changed to crown, and some later changed to freehold, but for good reasons. Now a Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) supporter, Rt Timoci said among these is the Denarau land where nine hotels are now situated. Rt Timoci said changes made to Denarau would not be argued by the landowners- the people of Narewa in Nadi as they are now reaping the benefits of the changes. “An undeveloped Denarau would give you scattered pieces of mangrove swamps,” Rt Timoci said. “Many have been said about what the Tui Cakau- Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and I did during our term. “We are chiefs in our own rights and we wouldn’t do anything to cause harm to our lands because the decrees will also include us and our land,” Rt Timoci told SODELPA followers during the party’s manifesto launch. He said because the islets at Denarau were scattered and this also meant that native lands, crown land and freehold lands were not grouped together, they had to change some leases to allow them to group lands of the same ownership type together. "To do this, the only way was to change some native land to crown and some to freehold and vice versa. “This enabled us to put all native lands together on a beachfront. “This is what you see now on Denarau Island, you have the native lands which are where the nine hotels like Hilton, Raddison, and Sheraton are all sitting, the crown lands are all on one spot and the freehold lands are all in another spot.” Rt Timoci said if that was not done, the people of Narewa would not be enjoying the lease money that they now receive from the nine hotels on Denarau. Source: Fijilive
"Khaiyum’s claim that he has protected iTaukei land ownership better than before is based on his claim that he has banned land swaps like the one at Denarau. Under this swap small parcels of native were swapped for Crown land. This was done so that there would be viable sites for tourism to be leased to developers. Ratu Timoci Vesikula has explained all this in the Fiji Live report on the link below. As a result of this swap the NLTB were able to “put all native lands together on a beachfront”. Without the swap Narewa landowners would have had scattered plots of mangrove rather than a consolidated block with beachfront on which hotels could be built. Khaiyum hopes this will be too hard for iTaukei minds to get around, no doubt assuming that everyone would have as much trouble following at his so-called ‘boss’. Denarau has brought a lot of money to Narewa landowners and this is what Khaiyum would outlaw in the name of protecting their land rights. Denarau is a good example of development where everyone benefits. Landowners get good rent and Nadi has a magnet drawing tourists and giving jobs to a lot of people from Nadi, not just in Denarau but all around the area."
Bainimarama on Vesikula:
"The only reason he wanted to talk bodly in that meeting was because he's trying to claim the title of Turaga na Ratu from Verata. He's not entitled to that. There's only Turaga na Ratu which is Tu Voka (Ratu Iferemi Gavoka). But Vesikula wants to tell people that he's Ratu from Verata - what nonsense." Bainimarama in a recent Mai Life interview.
"The only reason he wanted to talk bodly in that meeting was because he's trying to claim the title of Turaga na Ratu from Verata. He's not entitled to that. There's only Turaga na Ratu which is Tu Voka (Ratu Iferemi Gavoka). But Vesikula wants to tell people that he's Ratu from Verata - what nonsense." Bainimarama in a recent Mai Life interview.
