Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has confirmed the I-Taukei Land Trust Board has returned Schedule A and Schedule B lands to landowners.
These are lands which were under the control of the State however is now administered by the TLTB.
Bainimarama says this process which took a slow start since 2003 has been fast-tracked and is nearing completion.
“Out of 1100 parcels of Schedule A land TLTB has already allotted 1074 parcels or 95% to landowning units for schedule B lands out of 304 parcels of land TLTB has allotted 265 parcels or 87% to landowning units.”
Bainimarama says this has led to more itaukei land that used to be crown land prior to 2003 returned to landowners.
“This also implies that if the existing leases were in the reverted parcels of Schedule A and Schedule B lands, the lease monies would now be transferred to the new allotted landowning units. This is a positive development for landowners which also means more lease monies for the itaukei and more land for sugar cane farming and other developments.”
The Prime Minister says this also implies that if the existing leases were in the reverted parcels of Schedule A and Schedule B lands, the lease monies would now be transferred to the new allotted landowning units.
Bainimarama adds this is a positive development for landowners as this means more lease monies for the itaukei and more land for sugar cane farming and other developments.
However this will depend on the best land use available for that particular area.
