There is no threat to the iTaukei landowners - Bainimarama

Prime Minister and Chairman of the iTaukei Land Trust Board, Voreqe Bainimarama has raised the question in parliament whether the previous governments took proper prior consent of the iTaukei before giving millions of dollars from TLTB to businessman, Ballu Khan or when iTaukei land in Momi and Denarau was lost forever.  

While speaking on the bill to amend the iTaukei Land Trust Act, Bainimarama says passing an amendment to confirm that TLTB will have a CEO instead of a Manager is envisaged to bring better services to iTaukei landowners, tenants and potential lessees.

He says there is no threat to the iTaukei landowners.

Bainimarama also says that the iTaukei own 96% of the land in Fiji and they have full protection of their land as it is enshrined in the constitution. He says certain agreements that have been ratified overseas to protect the indigenous is mainly for communities like the Red Indians and the Aborigines.

SODELPA MP Ro Filipe Tuisawau says the Prime Minister should expect continued confrontation if he does not have a bipartisan committee to look at all laws including the 2013 constitution.

Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete says the bill is simply to improve the delivery of service to the iTaukei landowners.

He also says that how can there be a bipartisan setup when SODELPA did not even support the Speaker’s nomination earlier this week.