The iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) has reported minimal developments in iTaukei communities despite distributing $100 million in premium payments to 5,000 landowning units over the last two years. TLTB’s regional manager for the North, Bese Buinimasi, clarified that this $100 million was primarily in premium payments, not lease funds.
In 2022, the board allocated more than $100 million in lease payments to landowners, with the figure increasing to approximately $120 million in 2023. Buinimasi stated that the board aims to distribute $130 million in lease payments this year.
Despite these significant financial contributions, he noted that there has been little development within iTaukei communities. Buinimasi emphasized the need for a shift in how iTaukei communities utilize lease funds, pointing out that they are fortunate to hold ownership of 91 percent of the land, in contrast to indigenous peoples in other Pacific countries such as Tonga and New Zealand. The State owns 4 percent of the land, with the remaining percentage classified as freehold.