Government to amend land and mining laws: Vosarogo

Government is going to amend laws governing land use and mining in Fiji to help landowners.
The Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo, said all licences for mining exploration had been ceased until the 1965 Mining Act is amended.
He revealed this with Government’s intention to amend the ‘Crown Land Act 1945, Cap 132,’ when opening the Ba Provincial Council Meeting at Nacula Village in Yasawa on Wednesday. He revealed his vision which he believed would help landowners.
“I wanted to share my vision about the land with its minerals and resources,” he said. “The core of this vision is that our land and resources are to be used wisely for us, iTaukei and our future generation.”
He said the challenges they faced were trying to review the act that regulated its use.
“Our ministry specifically looks after the State or Crown Land which falls under the 1888 Crown Land Ordinances.”
“The last time that this act was reviewed and amended was in 1945, and it was named as the Crown Land Act 1945, Cap 132. It has been 80 years now, and it needs to change because time has changed, and a lot of changes have taken place.”
Mr Vosarogo said Government had approved in May that they needed to review and amend the act.
“We have sternly looked into this because of the increasing number of developments that are taking place in our nation today. For the minerals, the 1965 Mining Act, we are going to amend this act. We have received many grievances and concerns of landowners receiving a large sum of money from the resources.”
Mr Vosarogo said the act clearly stated that any mineral, whether it be on or under any land or in the water, belongs to the State.
“We want to amend this because Government doesn't want to own any resources. Government wants landowners to own more of their minerals and resources that are found in their land. This is one reason that we need to change this act so that all the benefit of the resources goes directly to the landowners.
“I have ceased all licences for exploration until this act has been changed.”
He encouraged Ba province landowners for their contribution in amending the act and creating a new law that will benefit all landowners. The minister said the focus of the ministry was to amend the Land Use Act 2010 in the establishment of the Valuation Act of the country.
Mr Vosarogo said the Freehold Buy-Back Scheme was implemented for those who felt they had a small portion of land and wanted to buy back their land from the State.