Big west land move
her husband, Josefa Uluivuda, 46, including their three children, Salanieta Joy Ranadi, 18, Viliame Jacob Uluivuda, 17 and Joshua Sela, 11 were filled with excitement yesterday.
This was after the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony of the iTaukei Land Development Grant in Vuda, Lautoka, yesterday. The Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was also present at the event.
The site is the second subdivision project in Vuda and the sixth project in the country.
The total cost for the project amounts to about $616,000.
Government allocated $10 million under the iTaukei Land Development Grant.
The undertaking is proof to Mr Bainimarama’s statement saying: “We are one step closer to ending the notion of the iTaukei people being “asset rich and cash poor.”
The couple owns about four acres of land and through the Government grant, work has begun in terms of subdividing the land into 15 residential lots.
Ms Davelevu said the first time they had leased the land, they did not have the funds to carry on and that was when they sought the assistance from Government.
“The thing is we did not have any money to develop it,” she said.
“We had to find the source and the first opportunity that came to us was Government offering us the grant.
“They told us about the requirements, we had to apply and this is what it is. I am excited about it very much.
“For now, we can’t give any figures on the total cost of selling each residential lot because we need to work with Government, in regards to valuing the land after the development.”
Supporting family
Mr Uluivuda said he waited eight years for this day.
He said it was all through patience and hard work that got him and his family to successfully begin the project.
“I am so lucky to be one of the many landowners to be chosen and handed the grant,” he said.
“I thank the PM and his Government for that.”
In his address, Mr Bainimarama said it was through the ratification of the country’s Constitution in 2013, which introduced the powerful protection of all iTaukei land.
He said Government would continue to deliver for all Fijians.
Since 2015 the PM said Government had completed works on the first subdivision project in Vuda including projects in Yadua and Nasoqela where lots would be leased out and rentals would also be paid.
Mr Bainimarama said landowners would also benefit where every completed project would add on to strengthening Fiji’s economy.
“Given the strength of the commercial case for subdividing and leasing out land, Government decided we would help communities and ambitious individuals to unlock the capital they needed to develop their land and then get the right rental paid for it.
“And once that was done, we’d get out of the way and leave landowners with benefits that will pay out for generations.”
More land to be developed Meanwhile, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said there would be more land development in the Western Division, particularly along the Nadi-Lautoka corridor.
He said of all the developments that were approved and still tendered in the pipeline, eight of the applications were landowners from the Western Division.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum reiterated that iTaukei land was secured under the Constitution.
Some of the areas that would see future land development that would benefit the landowners include Wairabetia, Saweni as well as in Vuda.
He told the landowners they had the ability to ensure that the Fijian economy continued to grow.
“In Wairabetia we’re doing this subdivision that’s in tune of over $1.5 million, there’s 17 residential lots. What we’re doing in Wairabetia and in Saweni, the project was completed but what we’re doing is trying to make it climate resilient,” said the A-G.
“So, all the overhead cables electricity, we’re putting it underground so next time there’s a cyclone, there’s nothing to blow down, everything’s underground.
“We’re putting in streetlights, we’re putting in footpaths in Saweni, the Patina Property Investments Limited. It’s costing us over $2 million and there are about 34 residential lots there.
“Vuda one, an amazing property right on the escarpment on top is more of a lifestyle block, eight residential lots costing us over half a million dollars.
“Yadua and Namara Trust, there are 13 residential lots costing about $2.7 million.”
He said Nasoqela in Tailevu as well, there were 15 residential lots and one commercial lot valued at $2.8m.
Ensure lots are sold
The A-G added that Government would ensure that the landowners sold the lots for the correct price.