FOR years, members of the mataqali Tilivasewa in Tavua have demanded justice after their land was leased for 999 years instead of 99 years to a tenant in Toko, Tavua, in 1907.
This made it one of the longest leases in Fiji’s history.
In July 2023, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka assured the people of Tavua’s mataqali Tilivasewa that the Government would look into claims their land had been leased for 999 years.
Yesterday, TLTB issued a statement notifying the public that they would surrender the 999-year land lease.
During an interview with the working committee, mataqali Tilivasewa headman Peniasi Vauvau in Toko, Tavua, said they had been waiting for decades to have this issue solved.
“It has taken a long time for us to finally get it (land) back,” he said.
“Our forefathers have passed on and their children are still here alive.
“We are grateful to this Coalition Government for finally coming to a resolution with discussions on this land.
“We also have heard from TLTB that it was approved by the Government two weeks ago.”
Mr Vauvau said they did not want the tenants to be vacated.
“We want them to stay and just pay their lease. This land is divided into two and most of the tenants are on our land.
“This is also the first lease in the TLTB to have a 999-year lease.
“The lease we know is only 99 years.”
Mr Vauvau said the mataqali Tilivasewa would soon conduct a meeting with TLTB to negotiate a proper lease for tenants occupying their land.
About 500 people are part of the mataqali Tilivasewa.
