PM Permits Gravel Extraction for Home, Village Hall Building Only
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Jone Usamate also agreed for them to extract the gravel for the purpose of building their homes and village hall, but not for any business purposes.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has given the greenlight to Nayavu District in Tailevu to only extract gravel to build their homes and village hall. The gravel is extracted from the
Wainibuka River.
Mr Bainimarama made the decision after Mata-ni-Tikina Nayavu Lepani Tikoduadua raised a question on the issue during the talanoa session at the opening of the Tailevu Provincial Meeting at Naisausau Village in Namara yesterday. “We want to extract gravel to build our homes and the village hall. We hope that we are given permission. We are not selling the gravel, but it is for us to use in our village,” Mr Tikoduadua said.
He said their forefathers had never sold gravel and neither would they. “We are afraid to go and get the gravel because we were stopped and told that we could be sent to prison if we continued,” he said. “We only want to build our homes and not for business purposes.” Minister for Lands and Mineral
Resources Jone Usamate also agreed for them to extract the gravel for the purpose of building their homes and village hall, but not for any business purposes.
“We have seen some people that had asked permission under the pretence of building their homes, but in reality they were selling the gravel and we don’t want this to happen,” Mr Usamate said.
“There are laws in place for those that want to extract gravel for business. If they don’t follow the law, they will face the consequences.” In 2021, the minister advised the members of the public that the extraction of sand and gravel for personal or commercial use would require a licence which can be obtained through the three (3) Divisional Offices - Lands Lautoka Office at Tavewa Bldg, Lands Central Eastern Office at Gladstone Rd, Suva and Lands Labasa Office at Macuata House.
This follows an increase in illegal sand and gravel extraction since the first COVID-19 lockdown in April, 2021.
Under Section 2 of the State Lands Act 1945 and Section 2 of the Rivers and Streams Act 1880, the State (Government) owns all Foreshore, Rivers, Streams and the Waters of Fiji including the soil under the waters of Fiji.
This also includes sand and gravel. There are 22 districts in Tailevu.