5 Bua landowning units to receive lease payout tomorrow

Five landowning units in Bua will receive more than $986,000 in lease money tomorrow.

This is in regards to the setting up of the Bauxite Mine in Nawailevu, Bua and the land owning units who will benefit are Mataqali Naicobo, Mataqali Noro, Mataqali Nalutu, Vanua Navakasiga and Vanua Lekutu.

Acting Permanent Secretary for Lands, Filimoni Kau said the official handover of the Bauxite Mining lease to Aurum Exploration will take place tomorrow which will also mean that the company can start preliminary works like building a camp site, bridges and infrastructure.

Kau has stressed that the company can only mine after being issued with a mining lease which is one month from the date of the issuance of the surface lease.

It has also been agreed that landowners are to be given the first preference on unskilled and skilled employment provided they meet the criteria required.

The Lands Ministry has encouraged native land owners whose land is not being utilized to engage with government on the possibility of having their land leased through the land bank.


Story by: Shalvin Deo