A FIJIAN PEASANTRY: <i>GALALA</i> AND VILLAGERS

Overton, John

doi:10.1002/j.1834-4461.1988.tb02272.x

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…1 A relaxation of the regulations which tied Fijians to their villages and inhibited the development of galala (Lasaqa, 1984;Overton, 1988a); 2 The development of new land tenure laws, specifically the Agricultural Landlord and Tenants Act of 1966 (ALTA) which complemented the existing Native Lands Trust Board (NLTB) regulations for leasing native land, gave greater security of tenure for tenants and encouraged much greater leasing of land (Ward, 1995;Overton, 1987a); 3 Resettlement schemes which established Fijians, many from the islands of Lau, on independent leases in Viti Levu, notably at Waibau and Lomaivuna (Bayliss-Smith and Haynes, 1988;Brookfield, 1988;Overton, 1988b); 4 Encouragement of cash cropping on mataqali land (communal or leased), for example in bananas and cocoa (Ward, 1987;Brookfield, 1988).…”

Section: Rural Development In Fijimentioning

confidence: 99%

Vakavanua, vakamatanitū: discourses of development in Fiji

Overton

1999

Asia Pacific Viewpoint

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Discourses about development have contributed to profound socio-economic transformation in all parts of the world. This paper examines the development debate in Fiji with particular reference to two distinctive approaches: state-led developmentalism (vakamatanitū) and a discourse about custom-led development (vakavanua). Political and economic dimensions of these alternative discourses are reviewed with particular reference to land tenure systems in Fiji. Challenges to both vakamatanitū and vakavanua from an emerging literature on globalism will shift the focus of debate from`intentional' to`immanent' development in Fiji.

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Section: Rural Development In Fijimentioning

confidence: 99%

Vakavanua, vakamatanitū: discourses of development in Fiji

Overton

1999

Asia Pacific Viewpoint

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“…Thomas 1991b). Adherents of both of these denominations are less often seen at ceremonies, but are noticeably active in cattle ranching and other forms of commercial farming; both are perforce oriented away from customary procedures because kava is proscribed and Assemblies people sometimes criticize aspects of custom such as 'arranged marriage' which of course can only be identified as such once an individualistic western alternative is postulated Again, actualities of behaviour are not reducible to the polarized attributions: many 'independent' Fijian farmers actually sustain close involvement with kin (Overton 1988) and particularly their contributions to feasts, while some of those who neglect their obligations continue to reside in villages.…”

Section: Postulated Dilemmas In Rural Fillmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasts Marriage and Identity in Western Fiji

Thomas

1992

Oceania

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You see how people get married here, how much work it involves. The mats, the drums, the animals, it's murder! If it's a woman, that's all right, you just go and eat. But if you've got a young man, you have to start raising cattle. With you foreigners, it's easy. You have a small party and that's it. It's better that way, here it is just too much. You know how the Indians get married, Niko? The man goes to the woman's father and says, ‘Here's a thousand dollars. How about it?’ He says, ‘That's not much.’ Then the man offers fifteen hundred, he says ‘Ummm.’ Then when the man offers two thousand, he says, ‘All right.’ Different customs, say!

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“…Vuetibau writes that the first Indo-Fijian settlements were located at Vatuwaqa and Samabula (ibid). Until the Second World War most indigenous Fijians in towns were temporary visitors, particularly as what were known as galala regulations made it expensive through a colonial commutation tax for indigenous Fijians to be away from villages and thus exempt from communal obligations (Overton, 1988). However, the settlement of Valenimanumanu in (Vuetibau, 1987, p. 149).…”

Section: The Growth Of Fijian Squatter/informal Settlementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Informal Settlers, Perceived Security of Tenure and Housing Consolidation: Case Studies for Urban Fiji

Kiddle¹

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<p>The Pacific is an increasingly urban region. Accompanying this transformation has been the rapid growth of informal settlements in many Pacific nations. In Fiji, the site of the research, around 140,000 people are now living in informal settlements – often in poor quality housing, with inadequate service provision, in environmentally marginal areas, and with no legal security of tenure. Emerging theory suggests that understandings of security of tenure need to move beyond a legal/illegal dichotomy and focus on perceived security of tenure. This perceived security of tenure approach accepts that a much wider continuum of land use rights typically exist and argues that households may engage in processes thought vital to addressing growing informality – such as 'self-help' housing investment (often termed 'housing consolidation') – in the absence of any legal security of tenure. The research explores the nature of perceived security of tenure and housing consolidation in a unique context: a small-island state of dominant customary land. A mixed methods approach is taken, focusing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with informal settlers in seven diverse case-study settlements across Fiji (on both state and native land). Ultimately the research seeks to inform a more nuanced understanding of Fijian informal settlements and suggest policy options for intervening amidst growing shelter informality. Results suggest perceived security of tenure is more positive and housing consolidation is more prevalent than might be expected across the research case studies – although important differences are evident between indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian settlers. The research also reinforces the importance of the land tenure variable in the Fijian context – particularly in influencing access arrangements to settlements, perceived security of tenure, and housing consolidation. Perceived security of tenure approaches look to promote a wider package of policy options for improving tenure security for informal settlers. The current research supports an approach focusing on the in situ upgrading of current state land informal settlements (in contrast to the traditional focus on resettlement). It is also clear that ending evictions from state land areas – which unfortunately are still occurring, if not escalating, in Fiji – is the most important means of improving perceived security of tenure for current informal settlers on state land. The research also focuses attention on informal settlements on native land – usually accessed by informal, or vakavanua, arrangements where new settlers negotiate a stay on the land directly with landowners. It is clear, however, that some of these arrangements – particularly for Indo-Fijian residents – leave settlers in precarious tenure situations. Informal settlements on native land also pose significant challenges as options for state intervention in these areas are limited. On the other hand, vakavanua arrangements do allow many low-income settlers to live affordably in central areas – and thus reflect the resilience and flexibility of customary tenure which is so important in the Pacific.</p>

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A FIJIAN PEASANTRY: GALALA AND VILLAGERS

Cited by 11 publications

References 14 publications

Vakavanua, vakamatanitū: discourses of development in Fiji

Vakavanua, vakamatanitū: discourses of development in Fiji

Contrasts Marriage and Identity in Western Fiji

Informal Settlers, Perceived Security of Tenure and Housing Consolidation: Case Studies for Urban Fiji

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