Keynote Address: PM Rabuka’s remarks at the opening of the Fijian Teachers’ Association Co-operative Thrift Ltd (FTACTL) Uluinatabua Village- (21-08-2025)

It gives me great joy and deep honour to be here this morning to officially open the Uluinatabua Teachers Village. Today is not just about houses and land – it is about the empowerment of people, the dignity of homeownership, and the strength of working together for a brighter future.

This project is a testament to what we can achieve when we combine vision with action, and when we practise solesolevaki – working together in unity for the benefit of all.

Acknowledgements

At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the Fijian Teachers’ Association Cooperative Thrift Limited (FTACTL) for their outstanding leadership. This is one of Fiji’s largest and most successful cooperatives, and it is a model for what iTaukei-led enterprise can achieve.

I also wish to thank the landowners of Namoli Village, who generously made this land available, and the iTaukei Land Trust Board, which facilitated the lease arrangements. Your support demonstrates the power of partnership and trust.

Equally, I thank our many stakeholders – government ministries, financial institutions, engineers, builders, and utilities – for your contributions. Every nail, every plan, and every effort has brought us to this day.

About the Project

The Uluinatabua Teachers Village, completed in 2025, spans 12¼ acres and delivers 10 new cyclone-certified homes – four three-bedroom and six two-bedroom – each with a 99-year lease on ¼ acre, ensuring security and stability for teachers and their families.

All homes have been allocated to Fijian Teachers Association Cooperative Thrift Limited (FTACTL) members, reflecting the strong demand for affordable housing. The project also includes plans for a supermarket to serve both the village and surrounding community, further enhancing the quality of life and sustainability of the development.

Broader Vision

The Uluinatabua Village is only the beginning. The Fiji Teachers Association Cooperative Thrift Limited (FTACTL) has two models:

• Residential Villages – like Uluinatabua, offering secure and affordable housing.
• Farming Villages – larger plots, ranging from 1 to 20 acres, where teachers can farm, support food security, and build sustainable livelihoods.

Already, work has started on Narewa Teachers Village in Nadi, which will provide another 20-30 lots, some for teachers and some for the wider community. Similar projects are planned for Nausori, Navuso, and Serua.

This shows us that today is not an end, but a beginning – a foundation for more communities like this to be built across Fiji.

Alignment with Government Priorities

Ladies and Gentlemen, this initiative is a perfect example of how community-driven projects align with the priorities of the Government of Fiji.

Our National Development Plan 2025–2029 and Vision 2050 emphasise inclusive growth, resilience, and community-owned enterprise. The Fiji Teachers Association Cooperative Thrift Limited roadmap – linking savings, loans, housing, agriculture, and enterprise – delivers exactly that.

Our Government has committed to the elimination of poverty. Housing is at the heart of that mission. A secure home provides dignity, stability, and opportunity for families. It allows children to study better, parents to focus on work, and communities to grow stronger.

We have also committed to the empowerment of all Fijians. Initiatives like this one ensure that teachers – who educate and inspire our children – are themselves supported, respected, and empowered through affordable housing and pathways to asset ownership.

The Cooperative Movement – Building a Better World

This year, the world celebrates the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2025 under the theme: “Cooperatives Build a Better World.”

This theme resonates strongly with Fiji’s national vision to empower communities through collective action. It is also a reminder that our own cultural foundation – the principle of solesolevaki – has always been at the heart of our development. We have long known that when we work together, we achieve more, and we do so in a way that uplifts everyone.

Across Fiji, we have seen firsthand how cooperatives in agriculture, fishing, and retail have transformed lives. They have enabled ordinary Fijians to rise out of poverty, gain financial independence, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Today, Fiji has over 700 registered cooperatives and about 40,000 members. Collectively, these cooperatives hold assets worth $151 million, generate $26 million in revenue, and report $2.5 million in profits.

To further strengthen this movement, our Government has introduced the Cooperative Development Fund, which provides grants to boost cooperative enterprises nationwide.

I am proud to highlight some shining examples:

• Narocake Cooperative Limited in Lovu, owned by the Vanua Narocake, has secured agreements for the sale of treated pine timber and logs, while also building homes for its members.
• Matabani Cooperative in Nadroga has embraced renewable energy initiatives.
• Drawa Carbon Cooperative is generating income from carbon trading while supporting reforestation efforts.

These examples show that innovation is at the heart of the cooperative movement. From carbon trading to eco-tourism, Fijian cooperatives are demonstrating that collective action can address environmental challenges while driving economic growth.

This is why cooperatives are central to our National Development Plan and to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They are engines of resilience, sustainability, and empowerment.

iTaukei Empowerment and Enterprise

In May this year, Government launched the iTaukei Empowerment Framework, to coordinate support for iTaukei entrepreneurship and community development.

The Fijian Teachers Association Cooperative Thrift Limited (FTACTL) model is a ready-made partner for this Framework. By pooling savings, co-investing in land and housing, and supporting enterprise, this cooperative shows how iTaukei communities can move from being wage-earners only to being owners of homes, businesses, and assets.

This is empowerment in action. It is a practical way to ensure prosperity reaches every Fijian family.

Looking Ahead

25.0 The success of Uluinatabua Village is a beacon for what lies ahead.

• In Narewa, Nausori, Navuso, and Serua, more teachers will gain access to land, housing, and farming opportunities.
• Partnerships in forestry, tourism, and other ventures will create jobs, generate income, and strengthen communities.
• These projects will contribute directly to food security, resilience, and sustainable development.      Most importantly, these initiatives will help us achieve our collective dream: a Fiji where no one is left behind—where every child grows up in a secure home, where every worker has the chance to build assets, and where every community can take pride in its shared achievements.

Conclusion

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, as we open the Uluinatabua Teachers Village today, let us remember that this is not only about houses – it is about hope. It is about building a future where our teachers, who dedicate their lives to educating our children, can themselves enjoy security and prosperity.

This project stands as a model of what can be achieved when cooperatives, Government, landowners, and communities work together. It is a step forward in our fight against poverty and in our mission to empower all Fijians.

Let us continue to walk together on this journey – Government, cooperatives, landowners, and communities – so that every Fijian family has the chance to live with dignity, security, and pride.

It is now my honour to declare the Uluinatabua Teachers Village officially open.

God bless you all, and God bless Fiji. Vinaka vakalevu.