The Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF), in collaboration with Momi Bay Resorts Limited, has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vanua o Nalolo for the usage of its qoliqoli, an important area of coastal resources. This partnership includes a foreshore lease agreement valued at $1.2 million, which will be allocated among the six yavusa of Vanua o Nalolo over a span of three years.
The signing ceremony occurred on Monday at the Fiji Marriott Bay Resort in Momi Bay, attended by the six traditional leaders from the village and the Tui Nalolo, Ratu Kini Vosailagi. Ratu Kini expressed his support for the agreement, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the welfare of future generations. He stated that any agreement involving resource owners must carefully consider the long-term impact on local communities.
Sitiveni Nawaqa, president of the Viti Indigenous Tourism Alliance (VITA) and lead consultant for the Vanua o Nalolo, highlighted that this agreement took over two decades to finalize. “We had been trying to get this agreement signed for a very long time, first with Matapo (Limited) and now with FNPF, to which we are very grateful because they answered our call,” he remarked. Nawaqa recalled his father’s involvement in the struggle for compensation related to the qoliqoli’s usage and celebrated that at last their efforts have culminated in this agreement.
FNPF’s chief executive officer, Viliame Vodonaivalu, stated that this marks the fund’s inaugural agreement concerning a qoliqoli, largely due to the fact that the Fiji Marriott Momi Bay was constructed on a foreshore. Vodonaivalu expressed satisfaction in reaching an agreement with the landowners, expressing hope that the funds will be utilized wisely for the benefit of the community.
Momi Bay Resort, which boasts 250 rooms and is a five-star internationally branded facility, is fully owned by FNPF and began operations in April 2017. This milestone not only symbolizes a significant step forward in resource management but also reinforces the importance of community involvement in tourism development, aiming for a sustainable and beneficial relationship between indigenous landowners and business ventures.