The government is owed more than $33.5million in arrears from state-owned land leases.
In Parliament on Monday, Lands and Mineral Resources Minister Filimoni Vosarogo said these were arrears owed to the Government as of June this year.
“In terms of arrears, the total due as of June 2025 sits at just over $43million. This is inclusive of the January 2025 rent charges amounting to $9.6million plus the 12 percent interest charged in January 2025 for any outstanding balance from the previous years,” Mr Vosarogo said.
“So, the actual arrears, if we were to exclude the rent charges for January 2025, would be just below $33.5million.”
He said while no one was exempted from economic challenges, the ministry remained committed to intensifying efforts to collect outstanding arrears.
Mr Vosarogo said these included implementing strategies which included close engagement with lease holders, waiver of interests, site visits of lessees to understand their challenges and to see how they could work together to make them meet their side of the contract.
“Through these targeted actions, the Government anticipates balancing accountability with empathy as the ministry tries to reduce the arrears by removing the burden of interest for those genuinely affected and improving our systems and processes.
“We also expect the lessees to be fair and honour their responsibilities and obligations.”