Namosi Joint Venture gets 5 year extension to prospecting license

The Special Prospecting License for Namosi Joint Venture has been extended for another five years.

Permanent Secretary of Lands, Tevita Boseiwaqa says majority of the Landowning Units were informed in a combined meeting at the Namosi Provincial Office of the renewal before it was formalised.

Boseiwaqa says direct consultation was held with the respective landowning units prior to the renewal of the Special Prospecting License.

Meanwhile, the Tikina Namosi Landowners Committee says the extension of the exploration license was without the knowledge and the consent of majority of the landowners of Namosi.

Speaking on behalf of the seven landowning units whose land is within the boundaries of the mining site, Secretary of Committee Ana Vukaloto says 92 percent of landowners have voted for the termination of the exploration license.

The committee has called on the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to intervene after the recent decision to renew the Special Prospecting License.

Vukaloto says the committee supports other forms of productive economic activities such as eco-tourism and agriculture to contribute towards Fiji’s economic growth.

However the Permanent Secretary for Lands stresses that majority of the landowners have supported the extension of the license.

He says the Special Prospecting License was renewed on the 1st of April this year.

Meanwhile four men of Namosi Village charged with obstruction have been further remanded in custody for allegedly setting up a road block in Namosi last week.

The men were reported to be against the Special Prospecting License for Namosi Joint Venture.