A petition with 1826 signatures and paper by Dr. Padma Narsey Lal on "Saving Tiri in Fiji", which calls for an integrated approach to the use and management of mangroves, has been delivered to the offices of the Prime Minister, in his capacity as Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, the Assistant Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and the Director for Environment.
Pacific Conference of Churches General Secretary, Reverend James Bhagwan says they urgently call on the Government to rescind the renewal of the five-year development lease issued to Tian Lun Investment Limited and protect the mangroves from destruction, in consultation with traditional qoliqoli owners, issue a Protection Order on the remaining Nasese Mangrove Area and its surrounds for Conservation, Recreational Green Space and Educational Purposes only, and halt further development on the Nasese Waters Project until the drainage within the development and its surrounds are rectified by the developer and relevant authorities.
Copies of the petition were also sent to the Deputy Prime Ministers, Minister for Lands, Department of Environment and the Suva City Council
The petition is submitted on behalf of the property owners, residents, business owners, road users, ratepayers of Suva, citizens of Fiji and environment warriors of the immediate Muanikau/Domain/Nasese/ Laucala Bay/Flagstaff Neighbourhood, the Greater Suva Area, the wider Fiji community locally and abroad.
Reverend Bhagwan says the petition strongly protests against the removal and destruction of the remaining State Tiri (mangrove) in Nasese and calls on the Government to reject any further applications for the proposed integrated tourism development project by Tian Lun Investment (Fiji) Pte Limited.
The Pacific Conference of Churches General Secretary says this is based on the grounds that a 5-year development lease was issued by the Ministry of Lands on 1st July 2018 without any comprehensive stakeholder consultation with the nearby residents and the general public prior to issuing the lease.
He also says the Tian Lun Environment Impact Assessment Terms of Reference was issued by the Department of Environment without proper review of the development plans and consultation with relevant stakeholders as part of the Screening Application Process and as required under Part 2 of the Environmental Management Regulations 2007.
The petition says the development proposal and concept presented by Tian Lun is deceiving, incorrect and shows a lack of knowledge of the area.
The development plans show a proposed marina development within the foreshore area.
The petitioners say this area is not included in their current development lease area.
Reverend Bhagwan says Nasese Waters is a high-end residential subdivision area, yet they have incorrectly and deceptively shown this as a garden and lake.
They say that if the Government would consider entertaining this proposal to remove the last stand of mangroves from within Suva City’s Green Space, it would be contradictory.
The Department of Environment is in the process of drafting a Mangrove Conservation Management Regulation aimed at raising awareness on the importance of conserving mangrove ecosystems, strengthening existing protection measures and supporting efforts to halt further mangrove degradation.
Reverend Bhagwan says the destruction of the mangrove forests presents a danger to the marine and bird life that thrive within the mangrove ecosystem.
He says it threatens the local community’s sources of livelihoods and recreational activities.
The petitioners further say that Fiji is a global leader in the battle against climate change and removing mangroves compromises its official stand regionally and globally.
Mangroves store thousands of years of carbon dioxide beneath the soil and once removed releases huge amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
They also say that the Government and municipality have not responded adequately to the outcry of the Nasese residents who have for the past 12 years faced regular flooding of their homes and streets due to the reclamation of State Tiri (mangroves) by the Nasese Waters development project immediately adjacent to the Tian Lun proposed development site.
Reverend Bhagwan also says not only will this proposed project exacerbate the flooding, but it will destroy the natural catchment area of storm water flowing through Leveti Creek from Toorak, Flagstaff, Muanikau, Domain and Nasese areas. They look forward to action by the government and city council in this matter.
Earlier stories:
Tian Lun Ltd served with a letter by the Lands Ministry highlighting breaches of their Approval Notice of Lease - Vosarogo
Concerned residents are wondering why there was no publicity about such a huge project that will affect the environment along Queen Elizabeth Drive.
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo confirms, Tian Lun PTE Limited, which has a state land and state tiri land lease for a proposed project along Queen Elizabeth Drive in Suva, has been served with a letter by the Director of Lands highlighting breaches of their Approval Notice of Lease.
Vosarogo has told fijivillage News that attempts to serve the company at their registered office were unsuccessful.
He says one of their Directors was called so the company can be served where they are now located but it is understood that they are now operating out of their residential location, which they didn't disclose.
Vosarogo says a local company representative collected the letter of notification of the breaches on 16th of February 2023.
The Approval Notice of Lease expires on the 30th of June 2023.
The Lands Minister says those who obtain leases from the State must understand there are conditions.
Vosarogo stresses that when one proposes development, conditions come with it.
He says when you don't meet the conditions and do nothing to meet the timelines and the time runs out on the lease approval period, the lease ends.
Vosarogo makes it clear that there is no right to renewal.
He says your expectation, if there exists one, will depend on the conditions you have achieved.
Vosarogo says in the case of Tian Lun lease issued by the previous government, they have not met most if not all the conditions necessary for them to get a proper lease.
The Lands Minister says in this case, they have been informed that the approval notice to lease expires on the 30th of June 2023 and they shouldn't think there is a right of renewal because there is no such thing.
Click here to see the full Proposed Tian Lun project at Nasese
Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry has made a strong statement saying he does not support any extension of the Tian Lun Investment’s development lease and certainly not the grant of a 99 year lease for the state land and state tiri land along Queen Elizabeth Drive.
Chaudhry says there are too many serious questions pertaining to the credentials of the company which need to be investigated.
He says it is unbelievable that a company proposing to undertake a development of $600 million would virtually have no public information on its past activities, be without support of a holding or a parent company and be unable to proceed with any meaningful development work for 4 years after the grant of the development lease.
The former Prime Minister says Tian Lun Investment was granted a 5 year development lease over 36 hectares of state land in September 2018.
He says the company did not undertake any noticeable work on the land for a good 4 years.
Chaudhry says not much is known about the company itself except that it was first registered on 13th September 2016 with one Chinese national, Li Jialin (former name Jason) as the sole shareholder/director.
He says one Peter Ledua was named as the contact person.
The company’s office address was given as Lot 73 Gordon Street, Suva.
The company was re-registered on 2nd March 2021 with a change of address of its registered office to Level 2 Stands House, 2 Gordon Street, Suva.
However, Chaudhry says the shareholding had changed from $6 million to $250,000.
He says Li Jialin remained the sole Director/Shareholder - a one man company.
Chaudhry also says the Registrar of Companies records show no annual returns were filed by the company between 2016 and 2022.
The Labour Leader says the company did not disclose its primary activity in the registration form, stating: “Not applicable for Company and Foreign Company”.
Chaudhry says the form also showed that the company did not have an Ultimate Holding Company.
Labour says a Google search of the company shows only Investment Fiji on the screen.
Enquiries at Investment Fiji revealed that they had no contact with the company and had no information on the so-called $600 million proposed development project.
Chaudhry says further enquiries with the Lands Department revealed nothing of interest.
It is not known how a development lease was issued to the company with an unknown record.
Chaudhry is asking whether a due diligence was done on the company prior to the grant of the development lease in 2016.
Chaudhry also says the huge reduction in its shareholding from $6 million to $250,000 itself raises concerns about its credibility. He says there are too many issues that need a thorough investigation.
Chaudhry says the environment impact issue is another big question which the people on the whole must decide.
The Lands Minister is expected to comment later on how the state land and state tiri land leases were issued under the previous government.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Viliame Gavoka stresses that the value of our natural resources weighs heavily with us, so consultations regarding the proposed $600 million Tian Lun Square project along Queen Elizabeth Drive must be inclusive and thorough.
Gavoka says they welcome investments in Fiji's tourism, but he stresses we should always be cautious that this does not come at a cost to both our environment and our people.
He understands that the Environment Impact Assessment is yet to be completed.
Gavoka says they have laws to ensure protection of our resources and sustainability of investments.
He also says compliance must be total adhering to all the relevant environment laws of Fiji.
Meanwhile there has been another postponement of the public consultation relating to the proposed project along Queen Elizabeth Drive by Tian Lun Investment Limited.
Many residents were ready for the consultation to be held from 6pm to 8pm tonight at the Royal British Legion at Lot 7 Domain Road.
However organizers have issued a notice, saying the meeting has been postponed temporarily due to a sewage problem at the Royal British Legion Office.
Concerned residents are wondering why there was no publicity about such a huge project that will affect the environment along Queen Elizabeth Drive.
Firstly, they raised concerns that the consultations with the public was scheduled on the Christmas Day public holiday last year.
They ask what was the intention to hold it on that day as they would definitely get poor turnout.
When fijivillage News raised this issue with the Department of Environment at the time, the public consultation meeting was postponed to a later date.
It was then set for tonight with a location given with no address.
Residents again raised concerns and we contacted the organizers.
They then changed the venue of the meeting saying that the Royal British Legion will have more space.
The Environment Department will assess the outcome of the consultations and then expect an Environmental Impact Assessment report before making the final decision on whether the project can go ahead.
The project called Fiji Tian Lun Square is proposing to have office facilities, hotels, apartments and a residential landscape.
General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Reverend James Bhagwan has already made a plea to the government to cancel the lease for the state land and state tiri land and not allow the proposed $600 million investment project along Queen Elizabeth Drive by Tian Lun Investment Limited.
In a video released to fijivillage News by Reverend Bhagwan, he says the people of Fiji need to oppose this proposed project which could end up getting a 99 year lease from the Ministry of Lands.
A five year lease was issued by the Lands Ministry in 2018.
Reverend Bhagwan says the government needs to send a clear message by revoking the lease.
We have sent questions to Lands Minister, Filimoni Vosarogo. He is yet to respond.
There has been another postponement of the public consultation relating to the proposed $600 million investment project along Queen Elizabeth Drive by Tian Lun Investment Limited.
Many residents were ready for the consultation to be held from 6pm to 8pm tomorrow at the Royal British Legion at Lot 7 Domain Road.
However organizers have now issued a notice, saying the meeting has been postponed temporarily due to a sewage problem at the Royal British Legion Office.
Concerned residents are wondering why there has been no publicity about such a huge project that will affect the environment along Queen Elizabeth Drive.
Firstly, they raised concerns that the consultations with the public was scheduled on the Christmas Day public holiday last year.
They ask what was the intention to hold it on that day as they would definitely get poor turnout.
When fijivillage News raised this issue with the Department of Environment at the time, the public consultation meeting was postponed to a later date.
It was then set for tomorrow with a location given with no address.
Residents again raised concerns and we contacted the organizers.
They then changed the venue of the meeting saying that the Royal British Legion will have more space.
The Environment Department will assess the outcome of the consultations and then expect an Environmental Impact Assessment report before making the final decision on whether the project can go ahead.
The project called Fiji Tian Lun Square is proposing to have office facilities, hotels, apartments and a residential landscape.
General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Reverend James Bhagwan has already made a plea to the government to cancel the lease for the state land and state tiri land and not allow the proposed $600 million investment project along Queen Elizabeth Drive by Tian Lun Investment Limited.
In a video released to fijivillage News by Reverend Bhagwan, he says the people of Fiji need to oppose this proposed project which could end up getting a 99 year lease from the Ministry of Lands.
A five year lease was issued by the Lands Ministry in 2018.
Reverend Bhagwan says the government needs to send a clear message by revoking the lease.
We have sent questions to Lands Minister, Filimoni Vosarogo. He is yet to respond.
General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Reverend James Bhagwan has made a plea to the government to cancel the lease for the state land and state tiri land and not allow the proposed $600 million investment project along Queen Elizabeth Drive by Tian Lun Investment Limited.
In a video released to fijivillage News by Reverend Bhagwan, he says the people of Fiji need to oppose this proposed project which could end up getting a 99 year lease from the Ministry of Lands.
A five year lease was issued by the Lands Ministry in 2018.
Reverend Bhagwan says the government needs to send a clear message by revoking the lease.
Meanwhile some residents living in Suva are raising serious concerns over the way public consultations are being organised regarding the environmental impact assessment in relation to a major proposed $600 million investment project along Queen Elizabeth Drive by Tian Lun Investment Limited.
Tian Lun Limited acquired the lease for the state land and state tiri land from the Director of Lands in 2018 for an integrated hotel and tourism development.
Concerned residents are wondering why there has been no publicity about such a huge project that will affect the environment along Queen Elizabeth Drive.
Firstly, they raised concerns that the consultations with the public was scheduled on the Christmas Day public holiday last year.
They ask what was the intention to hold it on that day as they would definitely get poor turnout.
When fijivillage News raised this issue with the Department of Environment at the time, the public consultation meeting was postponed to a later date.
It is now scheduled to be held this Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm.
This time the public notice was published in the newspapers with no specific address. Again, residents said they are concerned why the address was not being given.
When we contacted the organizers of the meeting, they said they will change the venue and give the address.
The meeting is expected to be held at the Royal British Legion at Lot 7 Domain Road.
The Environment Department will assess the outcome of the consultations and then expect an Environmental Impact Assessment report before making the final decision on whether the project can go ahead.
The project called Fiji Tian Lun Square is proposing to have office facilities, hotels, apartments and a residential landscape.
We have sent questions to Lands Minister, Filimoni Vosarogo. He is yet to respond.
Some residents living in Suva are raising serious concerns over the way public consultations are being organised regarding the environmental impact assessment in relation to a major proposed $600 million investment project along Queen Elizabeth Drive by Tian Lun Investment Limited.
Tian Lun Limited acquired the lease for the state land and state tiri land from the Director of Lands in 2018 for an integrated hotel and tourism development.
Concerned residents are wondering why there has been no publicity about such a huge project that will affect the environment along Queen Elizabeth Drive.
Firstly, they raised concerns that the consultations with the public was scheduled on the Christmas Day public holiday last year.
They ask what was the intention to hold it on that day as they would definitely get poor turnout.
When fijivillage News raised this issue with the Department of Environment at the time, the public consultation meeting was postponed to a later date.
It is now scheduled to be held on the 8th of this month from 6pm to 8pm.
This time the public notice was published in the newspapers with no specific address. Again, residents say they are concerned why the address was not being given.
When we contacted the organizers of the meeting, they said they will change the venue and give the address.
The meeting is now expected to be held at the Royal British Legion at Lot 7 Domain Road.
The Environment Department will assess the outcome of the consultations and then expect an Environmental Impact Assessment report before making the final decision on whether the project can go ahead.
The project called Fiji Tian Lun Square is proposing to have office facilities, hotels, apartments and a residential landscape.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
