Consultations will be held about maintaining the land bank or not - Vosarogo

As a responsible government, we will consult with the people about maintaining the land bank or not.

Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo highlighted this while responding to FijiFirst MP Jone Usamate’s question about the government’s plan for the land bank on whether it will be maintained or removed.

Vosarogo says consultations will be done with the i-Taukei Land Trust Board and also the land owners who have had their land in the bank.

He adds consultations will also have to be conducted with the lessees, those who now have a lease for a period of time for which time still remains.

Vosarogo says if the land bank is going to be removed, the coalition government will provide the transition of those leases under a special protective lease scheme to the i-Taukei Land Trust Board under a bill necessary in parliament and with consultation and debate to amend the i-Taukei Land Trust Act of 1940.

The Minister says since 2011 up until the 2022-2023 financial year, $18.1 million has been spent by the Land Management Use Division.

He says proceeds from these leases are given to the land owners and none are kept by the government.

He says the previous government passed laws without consultation and the new coalition government will make sure they will consult first before acting.