Vunivaivai landowners to continue discussions on Goodman fielder chicken shed

Landowners of Vunivaivai, Nakelo closed the road last week leading to their land where Goodman Fielder has a chicken shed.

Police Spokesperson Ana Naisoro says the landowners called the police to guard the place as they held discussions with TLTB and Goodman Fielder.

Spokesperson of the Clan of Naluna, Jiutasa Bila says they had to close the road so that they can have discussions with the two stakeholders on some issues.

Bila claims the land was given to Goodman Fielder without their clan’s permission and that the chicken shed is on a reserved land.

He says another clan called the Vutuvo gave the land to Goodman Fielder without their knowledge and in the result their clan was not getting the equal amount of lease money as the Vutuvo clan.

TLTB Central Eastern Manager Ela Manuku says the discussion was to clarify to the landowners of Vunivaivai of the leasing of the land and whether the land is a reserved land.

Manuku says landowners are claiming that the chicken shed is on a reserve land but he says otherwise.

Manuku says in regards to distributing of lease money, before the leaders of each clan distributes the lease money but now each individual can have their own account and have TLTB transfer their lease money to their account.

He adds that they will have another meeting this Wednesday to survey the land in Vunivaivai, Nakelo to confirm whether the Goodman Fielder chicken shed is within the reserve land or not.

Meanwhile, General Manager of Goodman Fielder Chris Zaayman says that they have been made aware of a local land dispute relating to one of their farms, and they are taking immediate steps to try and understand the matter.