67 members of the Mataqali Serau in Nabiti Village, Dreketi each got $488 today in the second payout for the Fair Share of Mineral Royalties from the government.
While speaking at the handover ceremony, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Jone Usamate says a total of $32,600 will be equally shared as per the Vola Ni Kawa Bula records.
Usamate says the Mataqali Serau Mineral Royalty Fair Share Payout was derived from the export of bauxite which is mined from the mataqali land within the Naibulu Bauxite mining lease.
The Minister urged the recipients to sustainably manage these funds and use it wisely as minerals are non-renewable resource.
Usamate says this is a reflection of the government’s foresight in ensuring continuous socio-economic empowerment of landowners and landowning units who contribute to national economic development by supporting mineral development projects undertaken on their land.
He says this was made possible through the Fair Share of Mineral Royalties Act which was enacted under the Bainimarama government in May of 2018.
