Issue No: 649; 2 April 2001

In a letter to the School, the Native Lands Trust Board demanded $90,929.75 for the lease for the primary school as well as numerous other benefits. The demands include:
· that all the children of the 3 mataqali be given "free education", including tuition fees, building fees and free text books;
· that one of the villagers be allowed to sit in the School Committee meetings as an observer;
· that the first priority be given to the members of the village for employment at the school, including teaching positions;
· that the committee make available the school premises to the villagers for their bazaars and rugby training.

Included in the demand for the money is $14,586 as NLTB "poundage", $1,530 for NLTB costs, and $1,881 for stamp duty. Against the amount shown for the poundage is a figure of $286 for VAT on the commission. This is 2% of the commission demanded. The VAT rate in the country is 10%.

Under law, the NLTB now deducts 20% from the land rent for NLTB operations. The demand for commission by the NLTB, above the rent from which it gets its income, is a new form of extortion from the tenants.

The demands for the lease have continued to increase since 1996 when $39,000 was demanded by the NLTB of which $36,000 was the goodwill money for the landowners. There was no NLTB commission component then. The demand rose to $63,000 last week when the villagers forcefully entered the school and took it over. It then rose to $70,000. Now the figure stands at $91,000 and includes 16% commission.

The extortion signals the path ahead in Fiji for all transactions involving native land.

Meanwhile, the media reports, the school Management has refused to succumb to the demands and has decided to approach the high chief of the area with its grievance. Failing a resolution of this, a court action will be pursued.