The Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF), through Momi Bay Resorts Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vanua o Nalolo for the use of its qoliqoli.
The foreshore lease agreement is reportedly worth $1.2million that will be distributed among the six yavusa of the vanua o Nalolo over a period of three years.
The signing at the Fiji Marriott Bay Resort in Momi Bay on Monday was attended by the six traditional leaders of the vanua and the Tui Nalolo, Ratu Kini Vosailagi.
Welcoming the agreement, Ratu Kini said his main concern was to ensure the protection of the welfare of their future generations.
He said any agreement that involved resource owners must always be taken into account for the future of the people.
Ratu Kini pleaded for the protection of their resources.
Viti Indigenous Tourism Alliance (VITA) president and Vanua o Nalolo lead consultant Sitiveni Nawaqa said the agreement took more than 20 years to materialise.
“We had been trying to get this agreement signed for a very long time, first with Matapo (Limited) and now with FNPF, to which we are very grateful because they answered our call,” said Mr Nawaqa.
“I remember my father was one of the Turaga ni Yavusa and he, with our Turaga ni Yavusa and the Tui Nalolo, had been fighting to get compensation for the use of our qoliqoli for this development.
“And today marks the day we finally get our prayers answered.”
FNPF chief executive officer Viliame Vodonaivalu said the agreement was the first that the fund had entered into over a qoliqoli.
He said this was because the Fiji Marriott Momi Bay was built over a foreshore.
Mr Vodonavailu said while they were pleased to have reached an agreement with the landowners and they hoped the funds distributed to the landowning units would be used wisely.
Momi Bay Resort is 100 per cent owned by the FNPF.
The 250 room five star internationally branded resort was completed and commenced operation in April 2017.
