We are told a new lease money distribution formula will come into effect on January 1, with the proprietary unit of a native land receiving 85 percent of the money and the turaga ni mataqali receiving seven percent, while the turaga ni yavusa will get five percent.
Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama got rid of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) and changed the old lease money payout distribution (now called the new) because only a few on the top enjoyed the leased money.
The Bainimarama regime made sure all Fijians in the landowning unit received their share of the lease money.
The million-dollar question is, will this new lease money distribution continue to bless all the landowning clan members or just a few at the top?
The other question is, was the GCC involved in this new decision?
I believe the GCC should step in and show the world they are there for their people and all the lease money should be shared among all members of their landowning mataqali (clans) or yavusa (tribe).
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