Minister for Fisheries Alitia Bainivalu has strongly refuted claims made in a recent media article stating that no senior Ministry staff were present to receive landowners from Wainunu, Bua.
On social media, Bainivalu described the report published by The Fiji Times as “absolutely false.”
She said the Wainunu landowners were welcomed upon arrival, led into the conference room, and attended to by the Acting Principal Forestry Officer.
She adds that the article was even more misleading because members of The Fiji Times team were present in the same room during the discussions.
Bainivalu says it is unacceptable for a national newspaper to deliberately ignore facts and mislead the public, as this not only misrepresents the Ministry but also disrespects the landowners who made the effort to be heard.
Acting Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry, Sanjana Lal, spoke with fijivillage News, clarifying that the Acting Principal Forestry Officer did receive them even though the landowners did not have a scheduled appointment with the Ministry.
Lal also accused the Social Empowerment and Education Program (SEEP) of provoking the landowners.
She says the landowners are making allegations without scientific evidence regarding environmental damage linked to operations in Bua by the XINFA company.
She adds that the landowners have been advised to provide evidence, and the Ministry of Forestry has committed to conducting environmental checks.
Responding to Lal’s accusation, SEEP Executive Director Chantelle Khan told fijivillage News that the Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry need to be reminded of their duty to protect and promote the human rights of the people.
She says for SEEP, the bigger picture is that democracy is about citizen engagement, and the onus is on the ministry to do its part, which is to urgently respond to issues raised.
Khan also says that perhaps the Ministry should also collaborate with the landowners in gathering scientific evidence.
Questions were sent to The Fiji Times yesterday and they are yet to respond.
