26 September, 2023, 10:15 am Central - 25°C Rain

Ro Teimumu Kepa opposes Bill 17 saying that the Govt and the TLTB has not consulted with the iTaukei landowners
Call made to withdraw the Bill

Ro Teimumu Kepa opposes Bill 17 saying that the Govt and the TLTB has not consulted with the iTaukei landowners

Call made to withdraw the Bill

By Vijay Narayan
Friday 30/07/2021
SODELPA MP, Ro Teimumu Kepa.

SODELPA MP, Ro Teimumu Kepa has opposed the Bill to amend the iTaukei Land Trust Act, saying that the Government and the iTaukei Land Trust Board has not consulted with the iTaukei landowners.

Ro Teimumu is calling on the Prime Minister and the Attorney General to withdraw the Bill and to please consult with the indigenous Fijians.

She says this is not a racist concern as they see themselves as guardians and custodians over anything that is indigenous because they have to safeguard it for the future generations.

Ro Teimumu says other groups also have their entitlements and benefits and they as the iTaukei are not here to take over anybody’s rights.

She says the main architect of the principal act was Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna who went throughout Fiji in the 1930s.

Ro Teimumu says Fiji has always had the three legged stool – the vanua, the lotu and the matanitu. She says the vanua is the first people to have arrived here who are the indigenous Fijians which dates back to 3,500 years ago.

She says the lotu arrived in the early 1800s with the Methodists arriving first, and then the Catholics and others.

Ro Teimumu says the Deed of Cession was signed by the chiefs in 1874.

She says from that time onwards, each Government has recognized the importance of the vanua and the lotu and consulted with them on a regular basis. She says from the Alliance, the SVT, Fiji Labour Party, the SDL and all the political parties – they recognize the importance of the vanua, the lotu and matanitu so that it could stand with stability.

Ro Teimumu says each of these legs looked after one another.

She says the Opposition wants consultation with the iTaukei landowners on this Bill and it should be withdrawn for now.





fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
FEATURE NEWS
Risk of spread of Nipah Virus to Fiji is low – Health Ministry
The risk of the spread of Nipah Virus to Fiji is low, particularly as none of the countries in the region have reported cases and we do not import ani...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
It is critical for street dwellers to be assisted - Tabuya
It is critical for street dwellers to be assisted and alleviated from a life of poverty to one of productivity. This has been highlighted by the ...
2 hours ago

Online Safety Commission, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Ministry of Home Affairs to appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan at 7pm tomorrow
Online Safety Commission’s Acting Commissioner, Tajeshwari Devi, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator, Shamima Ali and Ministry of Home Affairs ...
3 hours ago

The Business License Act was revoked in 2020 to streamline and improve businesses in Fiji. - PS Local Government
Business Licenses were removed because the Business License Act was revoked in 2020 to see how the government can streamline and improve businesses ...
17 hours ago

Reserve Bank of Fiji hands over $103.4 million in profit to Govt
The Reserve Bank of Fiji has handed over a record breaking profit of $103.4 million to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor ...
17 hours ago

Nabua family lives in fear after being threatened and claims that Police are not doing their job
A family living in the Muslim League Settlement in Nabua have been living in fear for the past few months because they claim that the Police do not ...
17 hours ago
IN DEPTH
EBayShop Online Recruitment scam
The Consumer Council of Fiji has issued a public alert about a group of individuals running a deceptive pyramid scheme known as “EbayShop Online Recruitment.”
23 hours ago

7 Grace Road Group executives declared prohibited immigrants in Fiji after decisions by the South Korean Government and a request by Interpol
7 Grace Road executives in Fiji have been declared prohibited immigrants by the Fijian Government, it has been made clear through government ...
23 hours ago

Bainimarama and Qiliho’s trial
The trial of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Commissioner of Police Sitiveni Qiliho begins
39 days ago

TOP