Tui Nalolo Ratu Kini Vosailagi of Lomawai in Nadroga has urged landowners to protect their natural resources.
Following the milestone signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Vanua o Nalolo and Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) subsidiary Momi Bay Resorts Limited this week, Ratu Kini called on landowners to ensure the sustainability of their resources.
The MOU will see the distribution of more than $1 million to landowners for the use of the qoliqoli for the development of the Momi Bay Resort.
While welcoming the new deal with the FNPF, Ratu Kini highlighted the need to preserve their resources.
He said with any agreement, landowners must ensure the future of their resources and their people must be prioritised.
Ratu Kini said they must be vigilant in their efforts to preserve their resources such as the qoliqoli to sustain future generations.
Viti Indigenous Tourism Alliance(VITA) president Sitiveni Nawaqa said the alliance was working towards returning native resources to landowners.
“We are looking forward to putting together MOUs for other landowners across Fiji, especially those in the tourism industry,” said Mr Nawaqa.
“Our action plan is from 2024 to 2030 and in that period of time we want to put together MOUs that will be fair and beneficial to the landowners and the investors.
“We understand that the payment for the use of a qoliqoli is not written in law but we want to come to an agreement that respects the resource owners.
“This is what VITA is pushing for resource owners all over Fiji.”
