1. 2018 World Land Conference
NEW INSIGHTS ON LAND GOVERNANCE STRATEGIES FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION AND SUPPORTING PEACE AGREEMENTS
Land Governance for Reserved Customary Land
Presenter: Sereana Tuisabeto
Itaukei Land Trust Board,Suva,Fiji
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

2. 333 islands and 110 islands are permanently inhabited
Fiji Islands
Located in the South Pacific
333 islands and 110 islands are permanently inhabited
Home of the Olympic games 7s Rugby Gold winners
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

3. 4 held on separate occasions Land issues
Tourism Industry
Fiji Water
Coup
4 held on separate occasions
Land issues
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

4. Itaukei Land Trust Board
Land classification in Fiji
Crown Land - 4%
Freehold Land - 8 %
Itaukei Land - 88%
Itaukei Land is looked after by the Itaukei Land Trust Board
Established in 1940 to administer all Itaukei Land on behalf of its landowners
Two type of land in Fiji with Itaukei Land Trust Board
Reserve
Non Reserve Land
Reserve Land to safeguard landowners now and also future generation
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

5. Itaukei Land Trust Act Chapter 134
Laws and Legislations
Itaukei Land Trust Act Chapter 134
I Taukei Lands Act (Cap 133)
Town Planning Act & General Provisions Order (Cap 139)
State Lands Act (Cap 132)
Land Transfer Act (Cap 131)
Property Law Act (Cap 130)
Forestry Act (Cap 150)
Subdivision Act (Cap 140)
Environment Management Act 2005
Public Health Act (Cap 111)
Succession, Probate & Administration (Cap 60)
State Acquisition Act (Cap 135)
Local Government Act (Cap 139)
Land Use Decree 2010
Mahogany Industry Development Decree 2010
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

6. Central Eastern Region (Suva) Sub Region - Korovou
TLTB Offices
Central Eastern Region (Suva)
Sub Region - Korovou
North Western Region (Lautoka)
Subregion – Ba
Subregion - Rakiraki
South Western Region (Nadi)
Subregion - Sigatoka
Northern Region (Labasa)
Subregion- Savusavu
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

7. Sustainable Development and Wealth Creation
Core Business
Sustainable Development and Wealth Creation
Vision: Excellence in Land Management Services to meet Expectation of all Stakeholders
Mission:
1. Deliver competent, smart, sustainable and resilient estate land management services to all our customers.
Provide the best financial and investment services to the iTaukei landowners, ensure sufficient land and Reserve to meet their immediate and future needs.
Automate through modern technology systems and processes to accelerate organizational growth, innovation and business delivery.
Promote partnerships with government, regional and international sustainable development goals and conventions.
Promote equality of opportunities for all Fijians, develop human capital management and recognize performance.
Uphold good governance, inclusiveness, visibility and inculcate a culture of growth, innovation, productivity and excellence in the workforce.
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

8. Various Department/Offices
Regional Offices
Legal Department
Finance and Trust Department
Strategic Planning, Research & Development Department
Human Capital Management Department
Information Technology Department
Tourism Department Landonwners Affairs Department
Reserve Department
Lease Portfolio
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

9. Lease Portfolio & Financial summary
Lease Type
2015
2016
2017
Agricultural
14022
13879
14009
Commercial
1829
1887
1958
Educational
542
547
560
Forestry
287
264
261
Government
463
461
473
Industrial
662
693
713
Other
1083
1090
1125
Residential
20668
21445
22738
Tourism
221
229
248
Water/Mineral 46 36 38
TOTAL
39823
40531
42123
Trust Fund
TOTAL collected
2015
2016
2017
Trust income
$ ,373,400.00
$ ,777,170.00
$ ,293,534.94
Funds distributed
$ ,304,824.00
$ ,415,811.00
$ ,851,963.87
Balance
$ ,068,576.00
$ 4,361,359.00
-$ ,428.93
$27,675, – minors fund invested with HFC (18 years and below)
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

10. Reserved Customary Land
Reserve Department
Financially assisted with the Government
Reserve exercise commenced in 1940 and concluded in 1970
1995 the department was set up again
2 types of land issues dealt with in Allotment
Schedule A - landowning unit members have passed on or extinct
Schedule B – Unclaimed land during registration
At the end of 2002, land returned to TLTB as published in the Gazette:
Schedule A 884 Parcels – 490,227 acres
Schedule B 260 Parcels – 80,830 acres
In 2015, total transfer to TLTB as confirmed and published in the gazette:
Schedule A – 793 acres
Schedule B: 176 acres
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

11. Core function of the Department
Reserve Department
Core function of the Department
Section 1 of the Itaukei Land Trust Act Cap 134 “ It shall be lawful of the Board, by notice in the Gazette , to set aside any portion of Itaukei Land as a Itaukei Reserve
Exclusion of land from Itaukei Reserve. TLTA Cap 134 section 4 “the control of all native land shall be vested in the Board and all such be administered by the Board for the benefit of the itaukei landowners” and Section 9 “No itaukei land shall be dealt with by way of lease or license under the provisions of this Act unless the Board is satisfied that the land proposed to be leased is not being beneficially occupied by the itaukei owners and is not likely to be required by the Itaukei owners for their use, maintenance and support”
Section 18 of TLTA Cap 134 stating that “if the Minister is satisfied that the land belonging to any Mataqali is insufficient for the use, maintenance or support of its members it shall be lawful for the Minister by Proclamation to set aside such State land or land acquired for or on behalf of Itaukei by purchase, as in his opinion may be required for the use maintenance or support of such Mataqali. Any area so set aside shall be deemed to be a Itaukei Reserve”
Allotment of former Schedule A & B Lands
Regularise tenure of Extinct Mataqali Lands
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

12. Reserve Department Team Structure 8 officers
Reserve Commissioner is appointed by the Minister
Both positions are published in the Gazette
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

13. Procedures when Leasing Reserve Land
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

14. 7/8/2019
Case Studies
Dereserving Land due to its location, accessibility, current use and its market
Higher return for the Landowners
Dereservation process has to be followed with 60% consent
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

15. 2. Piece of Land traditionally gifted to Ben Ryan
History on its own
Land was an outside reserve land but is now reserved for the Tokatoka Ketenatukani for Ben Ryan also known as Ratu Peni Raiyani Latianara
Token of appreciation on 27th October 201
Reserve due to public interest
3 acres of land
Ben Ryan can lease it in future without any premium and rent charged
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

16. 3. Extinct Mataqali Land In 2010, the Mataqali became extinct
Land with all its existing leases and lease money was passed to the Yavusa
The Yavusa then used the money to build a Church Minister residence in their village
Property worth $500,000.00
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

17. Rental arrears of lease account Individual lease money distribution
TLTB Challenges
Rental arrears of lease account
Individual lease money distribution
Landowning Unit consultant
Goodwill payment to landowners
High demand for lease
High cost of Infrastructure
Climate Change
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

18. 3 years Strategic Corporate Plan
TLTB Future
3 years Strategic Corporate Plan
Electronic services on rental statement and updating of lease application case status
Fiji Business Excellence Awards journey
Literacy training for our landowners
Seed fund to assist Landowners
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

19. Setting aside parcels of land to meet the future generation
Conclusion
78 years of existence
Landowners rely on their land for basic survival and also financial assistance through lease money
Reserve customary land is crucial in all villages and traditional set up
Setting aside parcels of land to meet the future generation
Development in the new era
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION

20. Reference Estate Operational Manual: Itaukei Dereservation
Personal Interview
Reserves Commission Work Manual
7/8/2019
TLTB PRESENTATION