From left: The iTaukei Affairs Board deputy chief executive officer Josefa Toganivalu, Talatala Korolevu Saimone Vunilagi with Turaga-na-Vunivalu, Serua Ratu Peni Mataitini Latianara during the Serua Provincial Council meeting at Namaqumaqua Village on March 8, 2018. Photo: Ronald Kumar
The iTaukei Affairs Board (TAB) deputy chief executive officer Josefa Toganivalu reminded delegates of the Serua Provincial Council to be aware of the land lies being spread by politicians.
He said the TAB was concerned about this because it was baseless.
“I must confirm to you today that the iTaukei lands are safe,” he said.
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Mr Toganivalu said lies had been spread that the iTaukei people could lose their land.
“This is not so because there are legislations in place that protect iTaukei lands.”
The supreme law of the land, the 2013 Constitution section 28 (1) says - The ownership of all iTaukei land shall remain with the customary owners of that land and iTaukei land shall not be permanently alienated, whether by sale, grant, transfer or exchange, except to the State in accordance with section 27.
S 28 (2) - Any iTaukei land acquired by the State for a public purpose after the commencement of this Constitution under section 27 or under any written law shall revert to the customary owners if the land is no longer required by the State.
He also confirmed that the services of the iTaukei Lands & Fisheries Commission (TLFC) were good.
On the Register of Native Land (RNL) also known as the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB), he said in 2014 work started on digitising the record to address the growing demand for greater accessibility.
The VKB records, he said would be accessible to the iTaukei people when it would be sent out to all provincial council offices.
The Serua Provincial Council meeting started on Thursday at Namaqumaqua Village and ended yesterday.
Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar
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