THE landowners of the 701 acres of land at Toko in Tavua are demanding a $200million compensation.
In an interview with this newspaper, the chairman of mataqali Tilavasewa, Tevita Ralulu, said they had suffered for about 100 years because of the defect in the 999-year land lease.
Last Wednesday, Acting Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad, Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu and TLTB CEO Solomone Nata consulted the tenants residing in Toko.
A meeting was also held with the landowners later in the day; however, Prof Prasad was not present at the discussions.
“To have a proper discussion there needs to be evidence, and this is missing from the titles office,” Mr Ralulu said.
“I’m doing this because it is from my heart. I’m the great-grandson of the chief Nacanieli Uqeuqe, who was forced to sell that land for 100 pounds.
“I’m demanding compensation because of the loss financially, and most of my relatives have died. For more than 100 years, they did not have land on which to plant or feed their families.
“That is the loss I’m talking about.”
Mr Ralulu said the European settlers sold land illegally during the Colonial days.
“I’m going to read to you about the historical background of this land.
“After the Deed of Cession, Arthur Gordon had forbidden the selling of the land. So, in 1876 he established a commission headed by Victor Williamson to investigate all the claims of free home titles made by the European settlers.
“The European settlers were selling land illegally even though at that time our forefathers and grandfathers were illiterate, and they did not know about the law.
“That is why I have seen that this government and former governments did not do much about returning the land to Fijians and there is no law to support that.
“If only they knew their history of how the land was taken or deprived of them, they’d be able to understand.
“We, a few Fijians, know. I did a bit of land law and I’m doing this for the benefit of my people.”
