PRESS STATEMENT
DATED 30TH APRIL 2003

Following a meeting of the NLTB Board on Thursday 24th April this statement is issued for the general information of the public on issues that were discussed and major decisions that were arrived at:

1. AUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2002

The accounts for the year ended 31/12/02 were approved by the Board and authority has been given for the President and the General Manager to sign them on behalf of the members. NLTB’s annual report for the year 2002 will soon follow. Highlights of the 2002 year were:

• Operating surplus of $514,178.00 compared to operating deficit of $1,187,893 in 2001.
• A reduction in accumulated deficit from $3,155,983 as at 31/12/01 to $2,641,805 as at 31/12/02.
• The operating surplus achieved was slightly below the budgeted surplus of $522,052. However, there were a number of abnormal non-operational items charged or provided for during the period totalling around $1m.
• The Board expressed its appreciation that Management was able to meet another important benchmark, which was to produce the audited accounts by the end of March of the following year.

2. DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAIING CONSENT FROM LANDOWNING UNITS

This is an issue that has been discussed by the Board at previous meetings. A number of causes had been identified as contributing to the difficulty in obtaining consent:

• The mobility of the Fijian population in particular the maritime provinces.
• Disputes over land or chiefly titles.
• Differences in religious beliefs that have led to differences and disunity.
• Land registered to multiple Yavusas and land owned in common by unrelated units.

The matter was discussed at length by the Board and it was resolved that its Standing Committee look into it in more depth. This is not a simple issue to deal with and will most probably require that it be taken through to the various provincial councils and Great Council of Chiefs before it is finely resolved.

3. CROWN SCHEDULE A & B

• The transfer of files from the Lands Department to NLTB is proceeding on schedule. This exercise should be completed by the end of June 2003 as scheduled. The allocation process to the individual landowning units is also progressing and should be completed as scheduled by December 2005.

4. GENERAL MATTERS

• Improvements to IT Systems – NLTB has contracted a local company, Software Factory Limited to undertake an assessment of the security and data integrity issues pertaining to our system. They have also been charged with the drawing up of NLTB’s IT strategic plan.
• Public Relations – The NLTB’s quarterly newsletter has been produced after a lengthy absence. Ratu Sukuna Day will be celebrated by the NLTB this year. A Committee is drawing up the program, which will include sporting activities, and a church service.
• Improvements to our valuation system – We are currently seeking ADB assistance to fund a Consultant to undertake a review of our system of valuation. This will include coming up with a manual, training our registered valuers and their assistants, and the documentation and standardisation of clearly set guidelines.
• District Representation – We have recently commenced a weekly service in Savusavu at the Cakaudrove Provincial Office. This service is provided on Fridays by our personnel from the Northern Office in Labasa. This service will be considered in other smaller towns also in a bid to improve our service to our customers.
• Work is being done to determine the optimum staff to lease ratio within the organisation. This is also part of trying to improve our delivery of service. We could be looking at the establishment of specialised units within the Board in the near future. The centralising of service to corporate clients will also be included.
• Sugar Industry Restructure – NLTB continues to be supportive of the work undertaken by the Committee. We do recognise however that the land issue while important is not critical to the finalisation of the restructure

(K Bakani)
GENERAL MANAGER