PARLIAMENT Speaker Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu asked Minister for Forestry Kalaveti Ravu to simplify his statement on carbon trading so that viewers watching the live session would understand better.

He described the statement as confusing as carbon trade was a new issue in Fiji especially in outer island which included Taveuni.

“I hope Government will do more because you are on a live Parliament session and that is why I raised this matter with you Minister,” Ratu Naiqama said.

“We’ve had a case where millions of dollars paid for the use of Monasavu dam and landowners were not paid anything neither could they touch their land because it was leased.

“Once you lease it, landowners can’t touch it so what do we get in return? Is it free air that is given by God?”

“You need to address that as well so we know what is happening but we need to give more time to this topic of carbon trading part.”

In clarification, Opposition member Alvick Maharaj told Ratu Naiqama that carbon trading was a process involved where it was not so much about the amount of carbon emitted but how much was absorbed by acres or hectares of forests.

“So the amount of carbon per ha or acre will be calculated and that  is sold to companies abroad,” he said.

“This is what carbon trading is about and this is part of the Climate Bill which is now the Climate Change Act which was endorsed in 2021.”