Looking for tabua, $40K worth in stock
Fijians looking for tabua (whales tooth) for traditional functions can visit the ITaukei Trust Fund Board (TTFB) recently opened has now opened a tabua shop.
The tabua sale started at the TTFB in Nasese yesterday, after it was officially launched on Friday 9th December 2022 by the Permanent Secretary of iTaukei Affairs and Chairman of the TTFB Pita
Tagicakirewa.
One hundred thirty-six (136) tabua are in stock with a value of around $40,000 that will be put on sale to the public.
However this is strictly on a per quota sale which means that only 15 tabua will be on sale per month. The tabua price, ranges from as low as $170 to $860.
The prices are the cheapest in Fiji to date.
TTFB Communication Specialist, Naina Ragigia said the price of each tabua are derived from a formula calculated taking into consideration the current prices in the black market around Fiji.
The sale of tabua is on a firstcome, first-serve basis and no individuals can purchase two tabua.
“People that wish to purchase tabua have to physically present themselves to TTFB complex, fill out a form with relevant ID card (Voters ID/Driver’s license),” she said.
“The forms will be vetted by our staff on-site and tabua would be released after the vetting process has been followed.”
Ms Ragigia said the confiscated tabua was earmarked for sale and since then, extensive consultations were conducted with relevant stakeholders including various provinces, the Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Environment.
“Through the consultations it was highlighted that the exorbitant tabua prices also made it hard for communities to access,” she said.
Former Prime Minister and Minister
of iTaukei Affairs, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, had urged the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs to open a tabua shop in 2017.
“The approval for TTFB to trade such Tabua comes from the sanction of the iTaukei Permanent Secretary through the line Minister.”
The Tabua Shop was established to meet the market demand and to cater for the general public.