Cabinet has endorsed that the iTaukei Land Trust Act 1940 be reviewed to remove certain amendments made to the Act.

In a statement released yesterday, Cabinet says this is in relation to the iTaukei Land Trust (Budget Amendment) Act 2021 (Act No. 22 of 2021).

According to Cabinet, Act No. 22 of 2021 amended section 12 of the iTaukei Land Trust Act by inserting new subsections (1A) and (3).

Cabinet says the amendment allowed lessees to go directly to banks to use a lease as security for borrowing without obtaining consent from TLTB.

It says the lack of consultation with the relevant stakeholders prior to the rushed amendment, remains unresolved and continues to be a point of contention, especially with landowners.

Cabinet says it is important that any attempt to amend the principal iTaukei laws, such as the iTaukei Land Trust Act, must go through the proper consultation process.

The review of the iTaukei Land Trust Act to remove the amendments made to the Act by the iTaukei Land Trust (Budget Announcement) Act 2021 will be overseen by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and brought back to Cabinet for its consideration.