13 December, 2025, 5:29 pm Central - 25°C Rain

State wins landmark case

State wins landmark case

By fijivillage.com
23/12/2010
The drawn out dispute over the ownership of all land in Suva City and its suburbs concluded yesterday with a land marking ruling in favor of the State.

Lautoka High Court Judge Justice Sosefo Inoke delivered the almost 100 page ruling yesterday in a case where the Tui Suva Ratu Epeli Kanakana and others had sued the government for compensation saying that their lands were taken and held unlawfully by the British Crown and that their ancestral chiefs had no right to sell such lands.

The Tui Suva was also seeking orders for the court to declare that acquisition, sale and transfer of all land in Suva as null and void.

The actual reliefs claimed against the State included payment of substantial monetary compensation including for freehold title, as well as injunctions requiring the State to transfer all State leases in the Suva peninsula for the benefit of the Plaintiffs.

However after considering the evidence provided in the case, dating back some 136 years, Judge Inoke dismissed the Suvavou native title claim against the State.

Justice Inoke also stated that the final result is that the Native title to all of the Suva peninsula land have been extinguished and all the plaintiffs claims must therefore fail.

Attorney General and Minister for Justice Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum said the State is glad that the matter has been laid to rest.

FEATURE NEWS
Low chance of TD03F forming into Tropical Cyclone within 24 to 48 hours
The potential for Tropical Disturbance TD03F to develop into a Tropical Cyclone within the next 24 to 48 hours is low.The Nadi Weather Office says the...
3 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
People in Northern Division prepare as tropical disturbance nears Fiji
People in the Northern Division are preparing as a tropical disturbance located near the Solomon Islands continues to move closer to Fiji and is ...
42 minutes ago

‘Zootopia 2’ crosses US$1 billion globally
“Zootopia 2” is racing past US$1 billion globally after 17 days of release, becoming the fastest PG film to ever cross the coveted box office ...
2 hours ago

Canada reaffirms Pacific commitment with launch of Fiji Assistive Technology Hub
The Government of Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to the Pacific with the launch of Fiji’s National Assistive Technology Hub in Suva.The ...
2 hours ago

SODELPA expresses shock after FICAC charge Tanya Waqanika
The Social Democratic Liberal Party says they are shocked that one of their former party members has been charged by FICAC for allegedly opposing ...
3 hours ago

Ro Veidovi laid to rest in Muaiqele after 185 years
After 185 years, Ro Veidovi Logavatu's ashes have now been laid to rest at his village sacred burial ground known as Muaiqele. His ashes were ...
3 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Sonia Shanaaz says silent treatment hurts as she waits for assistance for her daughter with cerebral palsy
Sonia Shanaaz, the mother of 10-year-old Aarna who was born with cerebral palsy, says silent treatment hurts after she reached out to the ...
1 day ago

I do not support police officers being charged on public opinions and without evidence - COMPOL
Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu says he will stand by his officers, and he does not support any officer being charged based on public opinion ...
1 day ago

Dubai 7s 2025
The Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s side are working on their fitness as they prepare for the start of the 2025/2026 World 7s Series this ...
5 days ago

TOP