There are revelations that the previous cabinet in June 2006 had converted 68.7 hectares of i-taukei land to a Crown grant which is freehold land for the Momi Bay Resort project.
While speaking in a draft constitution session, Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum publicly revealed the signed cabinet documents from June 2006 which shows the then Minister for Fijian Affairs and Lands took the paper up for discussion which was approved in a cabinet meeting on the 4th of July, 2006.
Sayed-Khaiyum said although the native land related laws were entrenched at the time and clearly prevented anyone from converting i-taukei land to a Crown grant or freehold land, this was done in this case.
The land was swapped with freehold land that the developers gave to the state.
Lawyer, Adi Litia Qionibaravi who was in the session then said that the whole issue needs to be analyzed as she claims that the landowners in Momi had given their consent in this case.
She also said that in most of the cases the current government is not consulting people on what should be done.
However Sayed-Khaiyum questions how can she defend this if it was clearly stated that the conversion of i-taukei land to freehold land could not take place.
Sayed-Khaiyum said they have gathered all the documents and this will be presented to the Prime Minister for possible further action.
Meanwhile Sayed-Khaiyum also stressed that all land in Fiji is well protected and the politicians, unions and NGO's should stop misleading people by saying that i-taukei land is not protected.
Story by: Vijay Narayan and Prasheel Chandra
Feature
Transfer of i-taukei to freehold land in Momi revealed
