Illegal Fiji Regime Makes Unilateral Changes to Land Laws

Cabinet approves land use law

Shalveen Chand
Fiji Times - Thursday, February 17, 2011

CABINET approved the Land Use Regulations 2011 which will see the establishment of a Land Use Unit within the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources.

The unit responsible for creating a Land Use Bank will have a deposit of land including both native and crown titled land.

The unit will also be responsible for issuing leases over all designated lands, collect and distribute rentals and carry out any other matters pertaining to all lands designed by the Prime Minister under the Decree.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said that Land Use Regulations 2011 were therefore intended to provide the legal framework for issuance of leases under the Land Use Decree 2010.

He said that the regulations will include the provision to lease native titled land.

The key provisions of the regulations include consent of native land owning units prior to depositing their land in the Land Use Bank including those under reserves; election of trustees as legal representatives of the land owning units whose role will be limited to matters relating to leasing of lands, the collection and fair distribution of rentals and premiums.

The provisions also include designation of land to be included in the Land Use Bank; the formulation of the State lease and forms for usage by the Land Use Unit; distribution of rentals; leasing on the market value of designated land, and valuation of designated native land by the State, government agencies and statutory authority.