Land lease cancelled

Most agricultural contracts are governed by the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Act and some under the iTaukei Land Trust Act. Leases are supposed to be a minimum term of 30 and 50 years.

is called Leweidaga.

A stranger had given the land to be leased unlawfully to an IndoFijian living overseas. The agricultural lease was granted six months ago.

Mr Rogose had first raised the issue in a video campaign titled Tagi ni Vanua (Lament of the People) by The People’s Alliance. It was posted on the party’s Facebook page. Deputy party leader Lynda Tabuya said it was sad to hear that Mr Rogose’s land was being leased without proper approval.

The TLTB said it had taken note of the concerns raised by Mr Rogose.

It said it had investigated the matter and was now taking the necessary steps to deal with the said lease, in accordance with the law. “Members of the public have been encouraged to raise concerns relating to their leases and native land with The iTaukei Land Trust Board and to contact them at any of their offices.”

Emails sent yesterday to TLTB’s chief executive officer, Tevita Kuruvakadua, concerning the matter were not answered when this edition went to the press. Phone calls to Mr Kuruvakadua yesterday also remained unanswered.

Contracts under an agricultural lease include activities such as root crops, cane, vegetables, dairy farming, poultry farming and timber plantations.

Most agricultural contracts are governed by the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Act and some under the iTaukei Land Trust Act.

Leases are supposed to be a minimum term of 30 and 50 years. By law, 60 per cent of the landowners have to give their consent for the iTaukei land to be leased. They have to agree to the type of the lease and the term.

While visiting the TLTB office in Nadi, Mr Rogose was surprised to find out that his 12 acres had been leased unlawfully.

He was there to legally transfer the 12 acres to one of his four sons to lease.

He said he was happy to hear from the two TLTB staff who visited his home on Wednesday at 10am. They told him that the lease has been cancelled.

“According to the staff of the iTaukei Land Trust Board, the land had been given by a stranger to the man who was leasing the land for more than six months,” he said. “We do not know who gave the green light for the land to be leased. I showed the staff of iTaukei Land Trust Board the map for my land. “We questioned them on who had leased the land as no landowners from the Tokatoka of Nahau had given the approval for the land to be leased,” he said.

Mr Rogose said he would call the staff of TLTB every day urging them to correct the wrong.

“I did not want to report it to the authorities or to take any legal action against the TLTB.”

He said he had earlier warned the staff of the TLTB of their action as the land had eyes. All action had its own consequences, he added.