Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Chair Vijay Nath [Source: Fijian Government]

The Parliament has accepted the committee report on the petition for TLTB to undertake two important things.

This is to review the distribution of lease to personal accounts and the land rent undertaking on unimproved capital value.

Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Chair Vijay Nath says the petition was signed by approximately 446 members of the public across the country.

“Following consultation with TLTB and the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, the Committee by majority voted, was satisfied with the functions and the process performed by TLTB and no further action is necessary in relation to the petition.”

Opposition MP Niko Nawaikula [Source: Fijian Parliament]

However, Opposition MP Niko Nawaikula says the review done is not good enough and more consultations with landowners is needed.

“Our point here is that we need to review this because the people that matter were not consulted. There is a need therefore for the petition to go ahead to hear their views, so that if it is beneficial, if there is a need for it to be brought back to parliament and that’s another decision, that is the whole purpose, totally wrong”

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum  [Source: Fijian Parliament]

Meanwhile, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says that issues brought by Opposition members are irrelevant.

“When we have these discussions we have seen, that they have brought in a number of issues completely irrelevant legal issues pertaining to this issue of equal distribution of land lease monies.”

Minister for Women Mereseini Vuniwaqa [Source: Fijian Parliament]

Minister for Women Mereseini Vuniwaqa says this has been beneficial for women like never before.

“Women may not have received a cent of these lease money and now as registered members of the Vola ni Kawa Bula, they have the right as individuals to a share of these lease proceeds.”

This motion was passed with 27 I’s, 21 No’s and three did not vote.

The petition was tabled on the 22nd of March, 2017.