Minister for Land and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo is seeking formal recognition of State land in Fiji’s Constitution, arguing that it is a key component of the country’s land tenure system and plays an important role in national development.
Mr Vosarogo made the submission before the Constitution Review Committee, stating that State land should be expressly recognised alongside iTaukei land ownership and freehold land rights.
Under the 2013 Constitution of Fiji, property rights are protected under Section 27, which states that a person must not be arbitrarily deprived of property.
However, the Constitution does not contain a separate provision specifically recognising State land as a distinct category within Fiji’s land tenure framework.
Mr Vosarogo said the review of the Mining Act, Land Use Act and the State Lands Act 1945 provided an opportunity to ensure greater alignment between constitutional provisions and laws governing land and mineral resources.
“The ministry therefore views the constitutional review and the ongoing legislative review as complementary processes that should inform and reinforce one another to achieve a modern, effective, and resilient legal framework for Fiji’s land and mineral resource sector,” he said.
