NLTB manager has 2,000 ac property

Issue No: 703; 26 April 2001

 
The General Manager of the Native Lands Trust Board, Maika Qarikau, owns a 2,000 acre property on Vanua Levu. It is leasehold land.

Called the Yalave (Estate), the property also has and "palatial colonial style house on the hill with a magnificent view of Fawn Harbour and Taveuni", as well as equipment worth over $1m. This includes tractors, trucks, a digger, a bulldozer and other modern farm equipment.

The revelations were made today by democracy activist Jone Dakuvula in an article in the Fiji Sun.

The source of funds for the land and the equipment is not known. Qarikau has no other substantial source of income than his salary as the GM of the NLTB. This is estimated to be around $100,000 a year. Dakuvula wrote: "One of the advantages of working for the NLTB is that you have the information first hand and can make choices like this".

Former Prime Minister and Qarikau's cousin, Sitiveni Rabuka also has a 2,000 acre freehold property in the same area. The land, called Valavala Estate also houses some of the most modern facilities. Late last year Rabuka has plans to subdivide the land into 10-20 ac plots for sale. Dakuvula wrote: "I wondered how Rabuka was managing in his loan repayments to his Bankers."

During 1999 and 2000, Qarikau had produced a masterplan for tourist development in areas close to his and Rabuka's farm. He wanted the government to guarantee loans for the multi-million dollar tourist development. Government policy is not to guarantee private loans.

Qarikau is a prominent support of the terrorist George Speight. He was frequently sighted on the Parliamentary Complex where the terrorists had kept the government hostage. Qarikau's name was also on the list of ministers - as lands minister - in Speight's cabinet.

Meanwhile no one in authority has responded to the claim by military commander Col. Viliame Seruvakula that the common thread binding the 7 coup plotters was the huge debts which they had and tax evasion.

 

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