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Issue No: 1024; 20 August 2001
DEMOCRACY supporters have welcomed the comments from senior Fijian Leaders who have urged a new consideration of land policies proposed by the Fiji Labour Party while it was in government. Raymond Croxon, President of the Movement for Democracy in Fiji, praised Ratu Epeli Ganilau, the Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, for his foresight in calling for a " radical shift in attitudes and perceptions of the landowners in developing the land". Mr Croxon welcomed Ratu Epeli's request that while previously land was regarded as an heirloom it should now be regarded as "an economic asset". "There must never be any doubt that land in Fiji belongs to the native landowners," Mr Croxon said. "But for everyone to benefit from that land, we must look at ways in which the 'national asset' can be unlocked and used for the national good." He urged the authorities in Fiji to use the good offices of the European Union in its attempts to move forward in solving land issues. "No one can be forced to use their land in one way or another. But we must also consider whether some of the quangos which have been in charge of Native Land have always had the best interest of the commoner landowner." Mr Croxon also praised Ratu Epeli for setting the record straight over the Fiji Labour Party's and Mahendra Chaudhry's intentions when they proposed the Land Use Commission. "It is time that politicians in Fiji learned to deal with
each other in good faith and on the basis of political policies rather than on
racial origins." |
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People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
