The Vola ni Kawa Bula, commonly known as the VKB, is the official Fijian register of native landowners. It is known in English as the Native Land Register. By law, all indigenous Fijians are entitled to be enrolled as members of the VKB, which is in the charge of the Native Lands Commission. Some 83 percent of Fiji's land is owned communally by the members of the VKB.
On 22 November 2005, the Native Lands Commission expressed concern that parental negligence or ignorance has resulted in an estimated 20,000 indigenous Fijians not being enrolled in the VKB. Many parents wrongly assumed, they said, that a birth certificate automatically registered every child in the VKB. Consequently, a system of automatic registration might be introduced.
Famous quotes containing the words native, land and/or register:
“The most domestic cat, which has lain on a rug all her days, appears quite at home in the woods, and, by her sly and stealthy behavior, proves herself more native there than the regular inhabitants.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“O land of manure and mist, of dirty, cold rain.”
—Petrus Augustus De Genestet (1829–1861)
“In 1872 I received a request like this and I did register and vote, for which I was arrested, convicted and fined $100. Excuse me if I decline to repeat the experience.”
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)