More Bua landowners show their disappointment against Fiji Pine

The Bua and Macuata landowners have the right to choose what needs to be done on their land, especially when it is unleased and reserved. Bua Urban Youth Network co-ordinator Alisi Rabukawaqa made the statement yesterday.

She said after Bua landowners raised their concern, landowners from Macuata joined in to express their disappointment toward the Ministry of Forestry for listening to Fiji Pine Limited and issuing suspension on harvesting letters to saw millers who had signed a contract with them.

“This is another added threat after Tropical Cyclone Yasa and we are calling on the leaders of this nation to hear us out,” Ms Rabukawaqa said.

“Fiji Pine is now demanding that pine growing on unleased land, referred as overplanted pine, only to be sold to them.”

She said the Ministry of Forestry has no right to issue a suspension letter without consulting the landowners.

“We don’t understand why the Ministry of Forestry is listening to Fiji Pine only and making the livelihood of hundreds of people in Bua difficult,” she said.

“There are also landowners from Macuata who are very much disappointed with Fiji Pine.”

She said these landowners, in their resiliency, began a discussion in earnest with saw millers operating in the area, negotiating up to $35 per log, the value of a standing pine tree.

“However, Fiji Pine issued a letter last week, outlining the cancellation of licenses of nine sawmillers that operated in the pine belt of Bua and Macuata,” she said.

“Some landowners have made plans to fully own sawmills themselves to make sure they get the maximum benefit from the pine they rightfully own and growing from their unleased land.

“This business idea will now be challenged by this sudden and opportunistic proposal by Fiji Pine and the Ministry of Forestry.”

Meanwhile, Fiji Pine Limited chief executive officer Vimlesh Kumar responded to queries on email saying that in reality, there would be no sawmiller who would want to invest in planting and wait for 25 to 30 years for trees to mature and then harvest.

“Put simply it means that you invest money today and wait for 25 to 30 years for the investment to give you returns,” Mr Kumar said.

“On the flip side, when there are matured trees, everyone will queue up to grab those resources.

“The same happened this case”

He said sophisticated GPS devices are now used (which were not there before) to find any patch of matured pine that reads outside of the lease map.

“The moment this is identified, a private sawmiller pays one-off cash to secure these resources from the landowners,” he said.

“These are resources that belong to Fiji Pine Limited and we have maintained this stance.

“What Fiji Pine Limited is saying to our landowners is that they are the owners of the industry.”

He said the Fiji Pine Group provides sustained returns to them and not a one off cash reward.

“These trees are planted and looked after by Fiji Pine at substantial costs,” he said.

“These resources belong to Fiji Pine Limited.”

He said Fiji Pine Limited was carrying out consultations with the landowners to seek their consent to harvest these trees.

Through this, Fiji Pine Limited has offered increased stumpage of 30 per cent.

“The case of private sawmillers approaching our landowners for one off cash reward to seek licenses is absolutely an act of exploiting our landowners,” he said.

“Obviously they would want to offer a much higher price as they have not put a single cent in getting the trees to maturity.

“They are there only to secure matured trees.”

When contacted the Ministry of Forestry permanent secretary Pene Baleinabuli yesterday said he was aware of the dispute and would comment later.

“We are trying to work things out for the best of everyone,” Mr Baleinabuli said. in