General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Reverend James Bhagwan has made a plea to the government to cancel the lease for the state land and state tiri land and not allow the proposed $600 million investment project along Queen Elizabeth Drive by Tian Lun Investment Limited.
In a video released to fijivillage News by Reverend Bhagwan, he says the people of Fiji need to oppose this proposed project which could end up getting a 99 year lease from the Ministry of Lands.
A five year lease was issued by the Lands Ministry in 2018.
Reverend Bhagwan says the government needs to send a clear message by revoking the lease.
Meanwhile some residents living in Suva are raising serious concerns over the way public consultations are being organised regarding the environmental impact assessment in relation to a major proposed $600 million investment project along Queen Elizabeth Drive by Tian Lun Investment Limited.
Tian Lun Limited acquired the lease for the state land and state tiri land from the Director of Lands in 2018 for an integrated hotel and tourism development.
Concerned residents are wondering why there has been no publicity about such a huge project that will affect the environment along Queen Elizabeth Drive.
Firstly, they raised concerns that the consultations with the public was scheduled on the Christmas Day public holiday last year.
They ask what was the intention to hold it on that day as they would definitely get poor turnout.
When fijivillage News raised this issue with the Department of Environment at the time, the public consultation meeting was postponed to a later date.
It is now scheduled to be held this Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm.
This time the public notice was published in the newspapers with no specific address. Again, residents said they are concerned why the address was not being given.
When we contacted the organizers of the meeting, they said they will change the venue and give the address.
The meeting is expected to be held at the Royal British Legion at Lot 7 Domain Road.
The Environment Department will assess the outcome of the consultations and then expect an Environmental Impact Assessment report before making the final decision on whether the project can go ahead.
The project called Fiji Tian Lun Square is proposing to have office facilities, hotels, apartments and a residential landscape.
We have sent questions to Lands Minister, Filimoni Vosarogo. He is yet to respond.
