THE recent $3.8million budgetary allocation will not cover all planned commercial and residential development, says Mata ni Tikina Nawaka, Panapasa Qoro.
“This $3.8million can be used by only a few Fijians, what if one province applies for that $3.8million, that’s very less,” he said.
“For one subdivision to be built here in Nawaka, that will be around $5.1million, even one mataqali will be around $1.17million.”
Mr Qoro said an allocation of $3billion would have sufficed.
“To date, we still have some applications that have gone to the Native Land Commission (NLC) asking for help for their small projects.
“Imagine if multiple people wanted to do commercial development and having to get that money from the $3.8million, that will be very less.”
Ba Provincial Council chairman Ratu Meli Tora agreed, calling for more funding.
“If it could be a little more, I speak on behalf of my people of Ba,” he said.
“Ba is the economic base of this country and we’ve stretched our arms to help other provinces as well with regards to the development fund provided by the TLTB.
“So that is the situation with the government considering to give that to the iTaukei. I also believe Ba could be given some degree of preferential treatment because of its economic contributions to the coffers of the nation as a whole.”
Mr Tora called for thorough consultations and due diligence with proper procedures to be carried out.
“I only hope, God willing, that this could trickle down to the grassroots people,” he said.
“I just want to thank God for having some consideration for the iTaukei. They’ve been very generous, but still people point fingers at us for being very unfair. It was through the generosity of the iTaukei that has enabled other people in Fiji to prosper.
“I believe with what is coming, there should be proper processes taken and monitored for the aim of the government to come to fruition.”
Mr Tora confirmed this would be further discussed with members of the council during the annual provincial council meeting in October.
Meanwhile Vanua O Betoraurau Environment Committee chairman Don Natabe also commended the capital investment made by government to support landowners.
“I appreciate the fact that there is a capital investment into support for landowners to develop their own land,” he said.
“I think this allocation will be the platform for more funding into the future.”
