Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has assured cane farmers that all efforts are underway to ensure that they have a secure livelihood and certainty when it comes to the renewal of cane farming leases.
More than 200,000 people in our country depend on the sugar industry and most of the cane farming land is leased Itaukei land.
While speaking to farmers in Ba, Bainimarama said that everyone is equal in the eyes of the supreme law of Fiji, and no one will be neglected.
Bainimarama says as Chairman of Itaukei Land Trust Board, he has directed the TLTB and the Lands Department that lessees must be told 5 years in advance regarding all leases that are expiring and whether the leases will be extended or not renewed.
He says this gives people certainty and allows them to make proper plans.
Bainimarama says to ensure the renewal of leases, 9 million dollars is also spent every year to assist those farmers whose leases have expired or are expiring.
He says the government pays a top up of 4 percent on top of the 6 percent paid to the TLTB to provide an incentive to the landowners to renew the leases.
Bainimarama says it was a sad situation after the 1987 coups when the leases were not being renewed. He says he witnessed many things when he used to travel around the country.
Meanwhile Bainimarama also says that TLTB has set aside half a million dollars to be matched by the government to assist tenants who are disadvantaged and elderly and are behind on their lease payments.
TLTB has also agreed to set aside another million dollars to assist the lease holders in the payment of their lease rent who have been severely affected by Cyclone Winston.
