Unity Fiji party leader Savenaca Narube has called for sweeping reforms to Fiji’s mining laws, warning that landowners continue to remain among the poorest despite the country’s mineral wealth.
Speaking during the first public consultation on the review of the Mining Act 1965 and the Quarries Act 1939 yesterday, Mr Narube said the current legal framework did not adequately protect the rights and interests of landowners.
“The Mining Act must first and foremost strengthen the rights of landowners,” Mr Narube said.
He claimed official statistics underestimated the scale of poverty in the country and highlighted what he described as a troubling reality for many indigenous landowners.
“Official data suggests that 75 per cent of those in poverty are indigenous people, many of whom are landowners in mineral-rich areas. It is therefore not a surprise that landowners remain among the poorest people in the country.”
Mr Narube said landowners were often informed of mining activities rather than properly consulted.
“Landowners or occupiers of the land are only informed under the current Act, they are not meaningfully consulted. That must change.”
He also raised concerns about prospecting licences being granted despite objections from communities.
“Prospecting licences should not be approved if landowners object. In such cases the matter should be taken to Parliament for approval.”
Mr Narube questioned whether the benefits from mining were reaching those most affected.
“Mining contributes significantly to the national economy, but according to our calculations, landowners receive less than a dollar per year each from mining activities. The obvious question is where is the missing money going.”
He proposed that mineral ownership should belong to landowners rather than the State.
“Minerals should be the property of the landowners wherever they are located, not the State.
“The mining sector has been left too long to the will of a responsible few. Greater transparency, accountability and proper consultation are essential if this review is to restore confidence in the system.”
