ASHNEEL SUDHAKAR
This is how he was fact-checked by Lands Minister Ashneel Sudhakar in the November sitting:
“Some Honourable Members of the Opposition are still resorting to lies in furthering their agenda. I would like to respond to Honourable Kuridrani’s statement against the Ministry, delivered yesterday (referring to November 2018 sitting). He had mentioned that the Ministry had issued a licence for the use of their iqoliqoli without the landowners’ consultation and consent, there was no EIA conducted and no plans to confirm the
iqoliqoli boundary. “I would like to assure this august House that no such licence or lease for the use of iqoliqoli has been approved by the Ministry of Lands. In fact, the work is still in progress. On the claim of no consultation, in fact, there had been numerous consultations done with the Vanua Vusu on 12th September, 2016 and on 27th of July, 2017.
“In fact, the meeting held on 27th July, 2017 at 12.00pm was held at the Namatakula Village Community Hall, which is Honourable Kuridrani’s Village. The meeting records indicated that Honourable Kuridrani was present in that meeting, in his capacity as an advisor of the Yavusa Vusu.
“On the EIA, Honourable Kuridrani is correct that no EIA has been done, but this is because the foreshore leasing process is in progress. For the demarcation of the iqoliqoli boundary, the work is still in progress. As to the claim of compensation of $20,000 which, in fact, is $19,828.25, it is the Fisheries Year 1 compensation figure.
We acknowledge the Maiden Speech by the Honourable Member, but Honourable Kuridrani should do the honourable thing and stop misleading this House. In fact, he should apologise for his incorrect statement.”
People of this country have the right to expect that every utterance that we make is always based on actual fact. We need to check and cross-check all of these issues, so that nothing that we say in this House is based on supposition on what people say.
“Earlier on this week, Honourable Kuridrani, who is a good friend, classmate and a house mate of mine, Bulu House of Lelean Memorial School made the statement this week that he has a concern with the 99-year lease effective from 20th January, 2018 that was done without any consultation with the Mataqali Noinau in Koroinasau. “The feedback that I have received from TLTB that there was no lease issued this year.
“The lease was issued in 1989 and landowners were consulted. Premium and rent was paid and the rent paid to date and distributed to the mataqali.
“In fact, mahogany has matured and the harvested stumpage has been paid to TLTB and the money distributed. That is one of the instances that I am saying. “Concern was also made about Biausevu Village in the district of Komave, Mataqali Ketenatukani – the mahogany plantation of 840 acres that was also issued a 99-year lease. That lease was also covered in the same lease from 1989. So, this is an instance that I am talking about - the importance of making sure that when we bring things up in the House, that they are based on actual facts.
“People of this country have the right to expect that every utterance that we make is always based on actual fact. We need to check and cross-check all of these issues, so that nothing that we say in this House is based on supposition on what people say.
“The other issue that my friend, the Honourable Kuridrani has mentioned was about Raiwaqa Village in the district of Mavua where he stated that in July 2017, their 117 acres of land named Nataba was to have its ownership returned and only 30 acres of land has been returned and the balance of 87 acres is still under occupation by the tenants.
“From the TLTB they have informed us that the 30 acres has been reserved for the Tokatoka/ Mataqali Toakulu.
“The balance of 87 acres that was referred to in the House has already been set aside as reserved
Mataqali as published by the Gazette of 19th February, 2018, that is the fact. Now, the whole parcel of land has already been dealt with. Those are some of the issues that I would like to address, Mr Speaker.”