The Prime Minister, Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama in his capacity as the Minister for iTaukei Affairs and chairman of the Native Land Trust Board ("NLTB") has directed the NLTB to distribute all lease monies to all eligible persons 18 years and over. The directive today effectively reduces the minimum age for lease money recipients to 18 years from the previously practiced 21 years and over. Under the existing policy and practice of NLTB, all monies received by NLTB are only distributed to eligible persons 21 years and over. The monetary entitlements of those under 21 years of age are held in trust by NLTB.
As announced in January, the Bainimarama Government has amended the Native Land Trust (Leases and Licences) Regulations, to ensure that all members of the iTaukei landowning units receive an equal share of the monies distributed by NLTB, regardless of rank or chiefly title.
Given its policy under the Peoples' Charter for Change, Peace & Progress to reduce the minimum age from 21 years to 18 in all laws, policies and practices, Government has reviewed the existing NLTB policy of only distributing monies to persons of the age of 21 years and has now decided to reduce the eligibility age to 18 years.
As such, all eligible persons 18 years and over will now be entitled to receive their equal share of the monies distributed by NLTB.
For persons under the age of 18 years, the existing policy of the monies being held in trust by NLTB will continue, and these monies will be paid out upon a person reaching 18 years of age.
The Prime Minister has further instructed NLTB that this directive on the reduction of eligibility age to 18 years is to be implemented with immediate effect.