The i-Taukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) has successfully addressed a longstanding financial issue by compensating Mataqali Navunibua of Nayavu, Wainibuka, with a payment of $150,000. This payment pertains to royalties for gravel that was extracted from their land by the Public Works Department (PWD) during the Kings Highway construction between 2008 and 2009. An administrative error caused the royalties intended for Mataqali Navunibua to be inadvertently allocated to another group at that time.
TLTB Chairperson and Minister for i-Taukei Affairs, Ifereimi Vasu, emphasized that the Board conducted a thorough review of the claims and engaged in legal discussions, leading to this timely settlement. The payment brings closure to a High Court case initiated by the Mataqali back in 2019, which was formally resolved through a Deed of Settlement finalized in December 2024.
Reiterating TLTB’s commitment to fair and transparent management of i-Taukei land, Vasu stated that the Board aims to bolster relationships with landowners to ensure their rights and benefits are respected. This resolution marks a significant step towards rectifying past mistakes and underscores TLTB’s ongoing efforts to address historical grievances related to land management in Fiji.
In light of previous cases and ongoing initiatives, this recent settlement is part of a broader trend within TLTB focused on empowering indigenous communities and restoring rightful land ownership. This represents a hopeful development that could lead to further collaboration, fostering trust and improving the administration of land rights for future generations of i-Taukei people.
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