Public urged to take part in States Lands Act 1945 review

Members of the public are urged not to miss the opportunity to have a say in the review of the State Lands Act 1945.

In a statement, the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resourc­es said a final public consultation would be held on January 12 where the public can raise whatever is­sues related to the review.

The initiative, in conjunction with the Fiji Law Reform, aims to ad­dress several existing issues and incorporate modern requirements:

Transparency and governance: Ensuring a more transparent and equitable land management system, as the current Act does not provide clear avenues for address­ing grievances other than through the court system.

• Alignment with other laws: Har­monising the Act with related laws such as the Land Transfer Act 1971, the Property Law Act 1971, and en­vironmental acts.
• Sustainable management: Integrating ecological safeguards, with calls from organizations like the National Trust of Fiji for the inclu­sion of buffer zones around state lands for conservation.
• Addressing informal settlements: Working toward regulariz­ing informal communities on state land to provide secure tenure and generate government revenue.
• Streamlining processes: The gov­ernment also aims to modernise land administration through elec­tronic platforms, which will replace outdated, paper-based processes.

Written submissions can be ad­dressed to the permanent secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources on paula.cirikiyasa@lands.gov. fj copied to fijilawreform@gmail.com and lia.tavola@lands.gov.fj

You can also hand deliver your submissions to the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resource Head­quarters at the iTaukei Trust Fund Building Complex, Nasese.