Climate Change Act 2019

PAGE 6 of yesterday’s (19/10/19) The Fiji Times gives a brief account of the proposed Climate Change Act 2019.

Paragraph 2 of the article states that “Part 17 of the draft Act is similar to the Environment Management Act 2005 in relation to enforcement”.

We have come a long way in controlling and managing wisely the physical developments of our precious Fiji Islands. This control and management were initially enforced by law under the Subdivision of Land Ordinance No. 35 of 1937 and the Town Planning Ordinance No. 12 of 1946.

There have been a series of amendments to the two ordinances since, and they are now named The Subdivision of Land Act Cap. 140 and Town Planning Act Cap. Cap. 139.

I strongly encourage the honourable members of Parliament, the relevant officials of government who deal with physical development and the citizens of our beloved Fiji as a whole, to take some time and go through these Acts, and take note of the following:

1. The definition of “development” in the Town Planning Act.

2. Section 7 of the Town Planning Act.

3. Section 17 (4) of the Town Planning Act.

4. Matters 1-27 in the Schedule to the Town Planning Act.

So far we have The Preservation of Objects of Archaeological and Paleontological Interest Act Cap. 264, the National Trust for Fiji Act Cap. 265, the Local Government Act, the Environment Management Act 2005, the now proposed Climate Change Act 2019, and so forth.

It is vitally important to ensure that these Acts are applied in a well coordinated manner to ensure that what happens in our built and natural environment are beneficial to all concerned, now and to our future generations.

It would be wise that all the agencies that operate on those existing laws that deal with physical development and the management of the natural resources and the environment as a whole, should have a dialogue on this matter.

We all desire that development is carried out properly.

PITA K NACUVA Namadi Heights, Suva