CHIEF HAILS GOVT
Ratu Jese Tagicakibau praises PM Bainimarama’s leadership during traditional ceremony of qaloqalovi
Nausori chief Ratu Jese Tagicakibau says the people want Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama back to continue his strong, exemplary leadership.
He made the remarks when he presented the tabua (whale’s tooth) in the traditional ceremony of qaloqalovi to welcome Mr Bainimarama in Nausori yesterday.
Mr Bainimarama was there to open the Nausori iTaukei Land Trust Board’s Sub-Regional Office.
Ratu Jese also appealed to Mr Bainimarama to protect noniTaukei who were part of building this nation. He said in Taukei: “Mera maroroi, taqomaki, vakadeitaki ka mera nanumi ena ruku ni nomuni veiliutaki.” He said the whole country had witnessed and felt Mr Bainimarama’s excellent leadership in the past four years. He said that was why people wanted him back.
The opening of the new iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) Sub-Regional office in Nausori is the latest in Government’s concerted campaign to expand the reach of its services.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama made this remark when he opened the office yesterday.
Mr Bainimarama who is also the Minister for the iTaukei Affairs said it was 1999 when this office last served the Fijian public, before it was shut down by the Government at that time.
“I know that was a big disappointment for many who have had to make the inconvenient journey to Suva to access TLTB services for nearly two decades now,” he said. However, these doors were open again and they had been able to fund the opening of this new office, because Government had put Fiji – and its economy – in a strong financial position to do so.
He said they expanded their land management services in Korovou to cover the Tailevu North Area and Rakiraki back in 2016. “We opened new TLTB offices in Sigatoka and Savusavu in 2017. And only a few months ago I was in Ba, opening another new subregional TLTB office,” he said. Mr Bainimarama also launched the new TLTB website which can be accessed on www.tltb.com.fj
“It has a cleaner, simpler and more userfriendly design that will give Fijians a far more effective online resource to obtain information and communicate directly with the TLTB.
“So if you have a smart phone, feel free to check it out. Actually, my Government just launched a new free wi-fi hotspot here in Nausori at Syria Park in case you’re low on data.” Grant
Mr Bainimarama also issued iTaukei Land
Trust Board (TLTB) Seed Fund Grant. Recipient Serupepeli Waqabaca received 7000 from the grant.
The pig farmer said he would use this money for the construction of new pig pens. “I now own 25 pigs – 15 piglets, four sows and a boar. I had asked for $13,000 I’m glad to receive part of it,” Mr Waqabaca said. “The plan is to expand my pig farm by constructing more pig pens on my leased land. “My pigs are selling from $400 to $500 and sometimes, $800 depending on their size and my customers needs,” he said.
I know that was a big disappointment for many who have had to make the inconvenient journey to Suva to access TLTB services for nearly two decades now. Voreqe Bainimarama Prime Minister