$7M paid to landowners as bonus payout for the first time ever - AG responding to Nawaikula

“For the first time ever, Fiji Pine paid $7 million to the landowners as bonus payout.”

Those were the words of Acting Prime Minister and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum while replying to SODELPA MP, Niko Nawakula in parliament.

Nawaikula was calling on the government to do justice to the iTaukei landowners around the country.

He says that the problem that was faced with the Vaturu Dam landowners was the same with Monasavu, Nawailevu, indigenous pine landowners and mahogany landowners.

He adds that these landowners were being exploited for too long.

While responding to Nawaikula, Sayed-Khaiyum says justice also means a recognition of what has happened in the past.

Sayed Khaiyum adds that with mahogany, a lot of unpoliced harvesting had taken place which had caused a lot of problems in the mahogany industry.

Sayed Khaiyum says that Fiji is one of the very few countries where 91% of the land is still i-Taukei owned land.

He adds that this land can never be sold or being permanently alienated because it is protected under the 2013 Constitution.