The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources is reviewing its Mining Act 1965 and the State Lands Act 1945, together with the recent Land Use Act 2010.
Minister Filimoni Vosarogo said this in Parliament this week and told the House there were discussions afoot on the need to formulate a national land use policy for Fiji.
He said the review process sought to strengthen and improve on aspects of how best Fiji could attempt environmental management.
“There are discussions on the need to formulate a national land use policy for Fiji, incorporating the three major land tenure — State, iTaukei and freehold land,” he said.
“We understand that this will be a very huge exercise where we will require the services and assistance of those other various relevant government ministries and institutions. But nothing is impossible if we combine our resources for a united course. For the benefit of our future generation and to also leave this world better than how we found it, the ministry is committed to have this policy in place.”
Mr Vosarogo said this would ensure that Fiji was developing holistically, and its strategy encompassed both environmental protection as well as economic advancement.
Meanwhile, the ministry, he said, had also received complaints of delay in obtaining ministerial approvals. Mr Vosarogo said this was essential to ensure that thorough and careful considerations were made to preserve natural landscapes, traditional values, heritage, whilst also embracing the modern opportunities available to develop Fiji.
“The ministry also works in collaboration with the Department of Town and Country Planning in ensuring that its leases are in alignment with the department’s land zoning system.
“Having to consult the Ministry of Agriculture also allows the ministry to issue the most suitable commodity for our agricultural leases, for example, identifying whether the land is good for grazing, rice, ginger farming, etcetera.
However, for all leases issued, there are lease conditions which must be adhered to.
If a lessee does not follow these lease conditions, there are penalties and implications and quite possibly, the last resort would be re-entry and cancellation of lease.
“The ministry had been working in collaboration with the Department of Town and Country Planning on its State Land Use Master Plan along the Western corridor, which should be finalised in this financial year.”
