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iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) chief executive officer Solomoni Nata called on landowners to change their mindset, stop the handout mentality and work towards lifting themselves out of poverty.
Yesterday, TLTB disbursed the first 10 loans from its iTaukei Development Fund (TDF) in its latest move to reshape services provided to landowners whose land it holds on trust under the iTaukei Land Trust Act 1940.
“The current situation (of the well-being of the iTaukei) is not good. We are considered poor in our own country – 75 per cent of the population are poor and we, the iTaukei, are the poorest of the poor,” Mr Natta later told this newspaper.
“So this assistance is aimed at helping them set up their own businesses, using their land or whatever resources they have so that they can start a business,” Mr Natta said.
TLTB serves a total of 7,747 landowner units in the form of yavusa, mataqali and tokatoka, and administers a total of 53,446 leases of various types over these lands, which together generate approximately $53.5 million in rent per year.
Every year, the TLTB releases between $100 million and $120 million in lease payments to landowners, and according to Mr Natta, the money is usually spent while the iTaukei remain impoverished.
This led to changes in TLTB.
“We have to turn things around. We can’t just sit here and do nothing, so this is what we are doing. TLTB is raising some funds to help them, and today we witnessed the first aid distribution to the mataqali, to individuals. There was no deposit – but based on a very solid business plan.
“I told them (landowners) the path we are currently on has to change. Change their attitude towards investment, the culture – businesses have a certain culture, you have to get up early in the morning, you have to save money, make sure you don’t spend money unnecessarily on all these frivolous things, and so on.
“So it’s a partnership approach. We look at the business plan, give them some help and then follow up. We can even provide further assistance along the way if we see fit because it’s the landowner’s money. We don’t want to waste it.”
TDF has received a $5 million grant from the TLTB, which will provide low-interest business loans to eligible landowners to start or expand commercial enterprises.
Posts ‘Change your mindset’ First appeared in Fiji Times.
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