No reason for landowners - to not move ahead with Govt help
Natogadravu landowners near Nausori Airport have joined the ranks of iTaukei landowners now using their land for commercial use. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Tuesday announced that the Government would pay, on the landowner’s behalf, $437,400 towards a subdivision project. The subdivision consists of 51 residential plots, one commercial space and an office space.
The Government help is part of a $727,290 loan the landowners had borrowed from the Fiji Development Bank to finance this project.
The project plus others from the West is indicative of the changing attitude among landowners.
The Government has set a fund to help landowners develop their land for commercial gains.
It is said that iTaukei are resource rich but cash poor. They own 91 per cent of the total Fijian land mass but do not have much to show for it in terms of economic benefits.
This Government has stepped in to stimulate economic development on idle land by setting up a fund to help the landowners.
The landowners should be grateful for this assistance because without it, they would not be able to progress. This assistance should be welcomed by all those who believe in empowering people to undertake commercial projects and contribute positively to the economy.
We hope that Opposition politicians do not attack this scheme and use it as a political football. Landowners who are not on board should grab this opportunity and take advantage of the available funds. They should not be misled by politicians who distort the truth and spread lies for cheap political gains. We are already seeing this happening in social media and it is going to get worse as we move closer to the 2018 general election.
The Government’s financial assistance is unprecedented. It was not implemented by previous governments.
It showed that the FijiFirst Government means business when it comes to helping iTaukei landowners.
With this assistance, there should be no excuse by landowners. Previously, there used to be complaints about the lack of Government assistance for landowners. Now there is no reason for it any more.