The Bill to amend the iTaukei Land Trust Act 1940 or Bill 17 is safe, says the Gone Turaga Na Tui Nalawa, Ratu Epeli Niudamu.

In a statement written to the Fiji Sun yesterday, Ratu Epeli said: “This Bill in my view should be supported 100 per cent because you will now have a voice again that cannot be pushed aside by the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB).

“We can make sure that those who lease your land are doing what they promised and will follow the law. It creates a system of checks and balances to TLTB where they will be more transparent and ac­countable to land owning units.

“Section 28 of the 2013 Constitu­tion is very clear and it protects the ownership of all iTaukei land. We, the iTaukei don’t have to fear as there is a particular section in our Constitution which guar­antees iTaukei land ownership rights.”

He said he respected the opinions of those who were against Bill 17 but at the same time he encour­aged them to take time to read the Bill and to move away from listen­ing to misleading information.

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