The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources is currently meeting stakeholders in the tourism industry, business sector and landowning units in Lautoka.
The four‑day public consultation is on the proposed rezoning of Shirley Park which started yesterday.
Committee Chairman Joeli Cawaki said they would hear what the public has to say before the committee compiles a report for Parliament presentation.
Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said with respect to the rezoning application regarding Shirley Park, the Department of Town and Country Planning which has the legal authority by law has already undertaken two rounds of consultation with the objectors of the proposed rezoning.
Sayed-Khaiyum said under the legal process prescribed in the law, the Department of Town and Country Planning after completing the relevant consultations, will then decide on whether to approve or disapprove the rezoning application.
He said this maybe done in the next two weeks.
According to the Attorney General it is surprising and premature for the Standing Committee to be calling for an open public forum when such a process as provided for in the law has already taken place.
Sayed-Khaiyum said the Standing Committee needs to be careful not to become a law unto itself.
He said the Standing Committee must also understand that Parliament does not have unfettered powers just because a petition has been tabled.
He also said the Standing Committee must appreciate that the land in question is State Land.
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