NADARIVATU landowners are demanding answers over royalties and benefit-sharing arrangements from resources and businesses operating on their land, questioning why they have not received benefits they believe are owed to them.
Landowners’ representative Soro Toutou raised the concerns while making a submission to the Special Committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill in Kinoya, Nasinu on Thursday.
He questioned Clause 47 of the Bill, which stated that all minerals belong to the State while landowners are entitled to a fair share of royalties.
“We accept the first part of it,” Mr Toutou said.
“We are not here to overturn State ownership. We are here to ask, what is a fair share?”
“What is the number who decides and when do we receive it?”
He said the Bill did not provide answers to these questions, despite landowners’ contribution to the Nadarivatu Hydro Dam project.
“Our forefathers gave land for Nadarivatu Hydro Dam. EFL generates power from our river. EFL earns revenue with the difference sometimes.”
He also claimed that in 2024, landowners learned that two-year developmental leases had been automatically renewed for 99 years without their knowledge or consultation.
Mr Toutou compared their situation with Monasavu landowners, who he claimed received water royalties of about $160,000 annually, potentially rising to $500,000, along with a $52.8million court settlement.
“Same river, same company, same business, why does Monasavu had it and Nadarivatu Hydro Dam does not have it?”
He also questioned whether landowners had received promised benefits from Fiji Pine and Fiji Mahogany operations on their land.
“This is not a new grievance, this is a pattern and this committee has the power to change it.”
