Landowners refute decision to stop pine harvesting
The decision by the Ministry of Forestry to suspend pine harvesting in some sawmilling companies in the North has prompted 30 clans to refute the decision.
The 30 clans are members of
Bua Landowners Association.
Yesterday they met in Labasa and were represented by Maqbool and Company lawyer, Amrit Sen.
A letter from the Ministry of Forestry titled ‘Suspension of Harvesting’ dated January 13, 2021 was sighted by the Fiji Sun.
It is understood at least 10 companies were issued the same letter.
Ministry of Forestry, director Forestry operations North George Vuki confirmed that they had scheduled a meeting with the clans yesterday.
“We are having a discussion with the landowners about the illegal harvesting of pine from lease land,” Mr Vuki said.
“Yes we did issue a suspension of harvesting letters to sawmilling companies stating that we have been informed via a legal notice that the ownership of over-planted area is in conflict.”
He said unless the matter was resolved all operation would be on hold until further notie.
Fiji Pine Limited chief executive officer Vimlesh Kumar said they were unaware as to which mataqali (clan) had raised the issue.
“However, it appears that this relates to Fiji Pine Limited owned resources which private sawmillers have classified as overplanted areas thereby making arrangements with our landowners to harvest these trees,” he said.
“The Fiji Pine Group has taken a strong stance in this case given the substantial loss of our resources.
“We are collaborating with the Ministry of Forests to protect our forest and our landowners from the
any form of exploitation.
“I would like to stress that our Pine Landowners are shareholders in Fiji Pine Group and therefore, Fiji Pine Group always acts in the best interest of our landowners.”
He said this was to ensure that their landowners got long term sustained returns from the land that they had leased to Fiji Pine Group.
“Fiji Pine Limited spent millions in planting these pine and protecting it until maturity,” he said.
“While these resources were growing, no issues of lease boundaries arose and Fiji Pine Limited continued to nurture these forests at substantial costs.
“When these forests matured then there came interests from private sawmillers.”
Sakiasi Delana of Navunievu Village in Waitabu, Bua, claimed that Fiji Pine Limited had breached the agreement and contract.
“They planted in our reserve land and unleased land and now claiming they have the full right to harvest which is wrong,” Mr Delana claimed.
“Now they want to give us 30 per cent out of the total profit which is like they are reaping our resources.”
He said some already signed a contract with private sawmillers who had already begun harvesting these areas.
“The saw millers have been paying the landowners very well and even done projects like building of houses which Fiji Pine Limited can’t do.
“We don’t want to give them consent to harvest our land.” Landowners Association Lawyer Mr Sen said: “There is evidence that the trees were planted by Fiji Pine on their land.
“iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) is one of the stakeholders who need to be called in for discussion as they are the ones who know about land boundary very well.” He said such kind of suspension of harvesting especially post Tropical Cyclone Yasa where landowners needed money to rebuild their lives was not right.
He said there was no consultation before the suspension.
Jaydills Logging Company owner Jay Kumar said: “My business is closed now because of this suspension.”
He claimed proper channels communication were followed of