Land reforms will benefit all: PM

Submitted by TemoL on Thu, 02/07/2009 - 8:49am

Land ownership system will remain as it is, in other words the ownership of all lands shall not change said Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama at the National address on Strategic Framework for Change at the Tradewinds convention centre.

Stressing on the need for the availability of more land to enhance productivity whether it is native or state land, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said we cannot realize our true potential in commercial agriculture or increase in our exports or lift up the living standards or improve the economic conditions of the i-taukei, or provide sustained economic growth if land is not made available on a long term and secured basis.

"My Government shall work with the i-taukei land owners to ensure that they get a fair and market return on their land when they lease it, that they lease their lands for a tenure that would make it commercially attractive for the lessees;that the distribution of the lease monies is carried out on an equitable basis so that all taukei benefit not just a select few.

“I plan to implement these land reforms by the beginning of 2010,” he said.

Prime Minister Bainimarama said in the next three years the reform process would also seek to empower the marginalized and address areas of neglect.