PM says the politicians that are now talking about iTaukei rights of the landowners had ignored the landowners in the past

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says the politicians that are now talking about iTaukei rights of the landowners had ignored the landowners in the past and did not have the political will to improve their well-being.

In a statement titled the Lalakai posted on the Fijian Government social media page, Bainimarama says when he came into power, he wanted the government to recognise the rights of landowners to their fair share of royalties.

He says for too long, previous governments denied these rights to the landowners.

The Prime Minister says from Constitution to law, they enacted the Fair Share of Mineral Royalties Act 2018.

He says last week, the landowners of Nasomo Village in Vatukoula received a royalty payout of approximately $76,676.86 from the government.

Bainimarama says they invested $20,000 into Unit Trust of Fiji from this payout, the first time royalty recipients invested as a group.

He says so far, they have invested $60,000.

The Prime Minister says in addition, $1,230 was also deducted for Nasomo Community Fund to refurbish their community hall and kindergarten. The landowners shared the balance of $55,446.86.

He says that was their fair share of mineral royalties for gold and silver mined by Vatukoula Gold Mines Limited.

Bainimarama says this was possible through the 2013 Constitution under section 30, which recognises the rights of landowners to a fair share of royalties for the extraction of minerals.

He says since then, a total of 123 registered landowners of Nasomo village have received up to $885,500.60.

The payout is aligned to section 5 of the Fair Share of Mineral Royalties Act 2018, which states that 80 per cent of mineral royalties be given to landowning units that host mining projects and 20 per cent of royalties be retained by the State.

Meanwhile SODELPA Leader Viliame Gavoka says there is a lot of work to be done in regards to the rights of landowners in this country and Bainimarama and the FijiFirst cannot do it.

He says Bainimarama should remember that he overthrew a government some 15 years ago.

Gavoka says that the government Bainimarama overthrew had a plan for what Bainimarama is talking about now.