Nawailevu landowners will get their fair share of money – Mere Vuniwaqa

Public consultations will be held soon on the determination of the fair share of royalty to be paid to the Nawailevu landowners where bauxite mining is currently underway.

This has been confirmed by Lands and Mineral Resources Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa following questions raised by SODELPA parliamentarians on the payment for landowners.

Opposition MP Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu questioned Vuniwaqa why the royalty payments have not been made.

Vuniwaqa says the royalty payment is being held in trust with the Mineral Resources Department until the fair share is determined after the consultations as stated in the constitution.

She also highlighted that for the Nawailevu bauxite mine, Aurum Exploration Fiji Limited has paid the premium and rent payable for the surface lease, lease and premium for access to the mining, camp, quarry and stockpile sites have been paid.

Vuniwaqa also said the company has also paid the fisheries rights compensation and the rock royalty.

Vuniwaqa says payments yet to be accessed by the landowners are the future generation fund and royalties in relation to the extraction of bauxite.

She says there are certain issues in relation to the setting up of the trust funds in the relevant mataqalis and relevant trustee issues.

This is being sorted out before the mataqali can access these funds.

She also says the government and Aurum Exploration are also working out a way to determine the amount of bauxite ore that has been mined in Nawailevu.