"I would also urge authorities to investigate and see is it fair for a son to kick out his father and step mom out of the house when his father had built the house for his dark days. How can he get a new lease on a property on which he never built anything? Is this how things are done [i]n Fiji in modern age, whereby iTaukei Land Trust Board has powers to approve a lease to a person who has no right to the property and that person kicks out his father and step mom?"
iTaukei Land Trust Board
Suva
cc: Prime Minister of Republic of Fiji Islands, Commissioner Western, Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, Chief Registrar's Office, Fiji Police Force, FMF
Good Morning,
My name is Daya Nand and I am about 80 yrs old. I am writing this letter to inform the authorities concerned about how I have been made to leave behind my home which I build through years of my hard-work being a sugar cane farmer in Varavu sector of Bilolo, Ba. My father was a Mr. Devi Prasad of Bilolo, Ba. He gave me about one acre of land back in days. In his last will (Copy of the will is attached) he mentioned that also. When he passed away, that same will was used in getting the probate.
On the 1 acre of land, I built a wooden house with 5 rooms and a kitchen ( Plan of the property is attached). The 1 acre on which my house was built was part of bigger property (Native Lease) which had houses of my brother Mr. Birendra Prasad, Mr. Sajla Nand and Mr. Shankra Nand.
Mr. Birendra Prasad was a trustee of the entire property and an agreement was made whereby I would pay the rent of 1 acre to him on yearly basis and I did that for years. When Mr. Birendra Prasad got sick, he made power of attorney in the name of his youngest son, Mr. Videsh Kumar of Bilolo, Ba.
In 2012, Mr. Videsh Kumar surrendered the native lease on the property even though the older lease still had couple of years left for expiry. When the lease was surrendered in 2012, I was unaware of it. I was under impression that we still have couple of years left for lease to expire.
In the midst, my son Mr. Kamlesh Chand Vinod knew about the surrender and without informing me he applied for the residential lease through iTaukei Land Trust Board on 08-0ctober, 2012 ( Receipt is attached).
On February 18, 2013, iTaukei Land Trust Board sent Mr. Kamlesh Chand Vinod a letter stating the he was approved a lease at cost of $4040.00 with a rent of $200.00 per month (Letter is attached). Mr. Kamlesh Chand Vinod paid $4040.00 to iTaukei Land Trust Board and got the property on which my house was located under his name. When I found out about this I asked him that whatever he did was wrong and he needs to transfer the property to me since I was the one who owned it before and I built the house through my hard-work. He disagreed and kept the property on his name.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kamlesh Chand Vinod and my relationship detoriated over time because of my second wife. Mr. Kamlesh Chand Vinod hated my wife hence there used to be lot of arguments and the matter even went to police and court. He made living in that house a nightmare for us. Eventually being fed of all arguments and police case, I and my wife had to leave that house.
My daughters made arrangement for us to stay in Moto, Ba. We are totally dependent on daughters for financial support in paying the rent and day to day expenses and also some support from welfare. I don’t know how much longer will my daughters help me financially since they have their own family to support.
I am so worried about my future. I would urge relevant authorities to investigate into this matter and see why iTaukie Land Trust Board failed to inform me that the lease for the property on which my house was surrendered and I would need to apply for new lease.
I would also urge authorities to investigate and see is it fair for a son to kick out his father and step mom out of the house when his father had built the house for his dark days. How can he get a new lease on a property on which he never built anything? Is this how things are done on Fiji in modern age, whereby iTaukei Land Trust Board has powers to approve a lease to a person who has no right to the property and that person kicks out his father and step mom.
I would like the relevant authorities to investigate into this matter and take appropriate action. I have been treated unfairly by Itaukei Land Trust Board and by Mr. Kamlesh Chand Vinod of Bilolo, Ba. I would urge authorities to go to Bilolo, Ba and ask villagers who built that blue house in which Mr. Kamlesh Chand Vinod lives in now and is it fair? Is this how elders are treated in this country?
Thank You, Mr. Daya Nand
to [email protected]
Bula Manasa
We would be grateful for your comments.
Loloma mada yani
Editor
Fijileaks