Landowners Content with Government Role in Airport Deal
The land-owning units from Naselai Village, Tailevu, whose land was leased for Nausori International Airport in 1951 are happy with Government’s concern about “a bad deal made to them during the Colonial days”. Village headman Sunia Cagiduadua said he hoped the village units (tokatoka) concerned would be given fair compensation.
He said the landowners were getting a very small amount.
Their ancestors had signed a deal for 66 pounds for the lease of their land in 1951. Acting Prime Minister and Attorney-General Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum told Parliament they would find ways to compensate them.
“We must thank the Government for its concern and hope will it would look into the landowners’ concerns,” he said.
Meanwhile, the president of the newlyformed Qelesisisi Investment Company, Timoci Taganekurukuru Ranavue, said the company represented the 10 land-owning units on which sits the extended Nausori Airport.
He said they had learnt from the 1951 deal. According to Mr Ranavue, 79 acres of their land had been leased by Airports Fiji Limited (AFL) for the extension of the Nausori Airport.
He said at the meeting of the landowners at Naselai on Tuesday they unanimously agreed that they should not receive the lease money but would settle for 20 per cent of the annual gross earning AFL was getting from Nausori Airport. On goodwill, he said that in December 2016 they were given $1.2m plus the $50,000 for the annual lease.
“From this I received $400,” he said. Another lady who wanted to remain anonymous said she also received $400.
He said their company had hired a lawyer and a valuer.
The valuer, who has not been named, he said would value their leased land and put a cost to it. “Once the valuer completes his work we will sit with Government and AFL to negotiate our offer.”
He said they would not like to go to court.
The company lawyer, who was in Yasawa yesterday, would comment on the issue later.