The GCC had decided last year that the Landuse Commission proposed by the People's Coalition Government be fully discussed in the GCC before any decision rejecting it is to be made.

But Laisenia Qarase, at the launching of his political party, stated that his party rejects the Landuse Commission (LUC).

The habit of many ethnic Fijian politicians, including those with the terrorists, has been to sing praises for the traditional Fijian institutions and chiefs, while at the same time systematically undermining these institutions, authorities and chiefs. A typical example was the case of the terrorists who claimed to stand for indigenous rights, yet they not only bitterly attacked the Tui Nayau Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, but also flagrantly defied the decision of the Great Council of Chiefs which met the week following the terrorists' assault on Fiji.

Qarase is also of the same pedigree. While he continues to sing praises for the GCC, and loses no opportunity to proclaim his authority to the GCC, he continues to defy the GCC decisions, and abuse the chiefly system.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister in the People's Coalition Government Poseci Bune said statements made by the Qarase on the Landuse Commission were "inaccurate and misleading", and that they emerged from "ignorance of and unfamiliarity with the concept".

Bune said the concept of the LUC was the subject of a paper which he presented to the Great Council of Chiefs on behalf of the People's Coalition Government, at the Council's April 2000 meeting at the Raffles Tradewinds Hotel.

"At that meeting, I assured the Great Council of Chiefs, on behalf of Prime Minister Chaudhry and the People's Coalition Government that:
· The LUC will sit together with landowners and NLTB to discuss all land use, development projects and proposals;
· All three parties must agree on the most economic and productive use of unused agricultural land;
· All parties should focus attention on development that will bring optimum economic returns to the landowner; and
· At the same time promote and sustain national development."

Mr Bune continued: "I also assured the GCC that the People's Coalition Government had no intention of introducing any new legislation in order to set up the LUC." Mr Bune said, instead, the People's Coalition Government would revive two existing legislations under which the Land Use Commission would operate, and were the Land Conservation and Improvement Act, Cap 141, 1985 (LCA) and the Land Development Act, Cap 142, 1985 (LDA).

"The Government and NLTB are both obliged to work jointly together under these tow Acts as they have done so successfully in past administrations and, therefore, the claim by the Caretaker Prime Minister that the LUC would undermine the role of NLTB is unfounded and has no merits," Mr Bune said.

He said the major aim of the LUC was to provide Fijian people with an opportunity to develop their resources (land and forestry) and earn incomes to better provide for their families. "The NLTB does not have the competence, nor the capability as well as resources to do this and this explains why much of Fijian-owned land remain idle and underdeveloped over the years. There is no hidden agenda," he said.

People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands
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Last update: August 27, 2001