Leaders to discuss and resolve land issue in 2007

The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Labour Party will discuss and resolve the land issue early 2007.

The PM said that Government would form a tripartite forum to discuss the land issue. He added that the chances for land issues to be resolved were good as they had been having discussions with the Fijian Affairs Board and the Native Land Trust Board while discussions with the Labour Party have also been good.

One of the main sticking points in trying to resolve the issue is whether to use the Agriculture and Landlord Tenants Act (ALTA) or the Native Lands Trust Act (NLTA) as the main law to govern land use and tenure. About 84% of the land in Fiji is owned by indigenous Fijians and cannot be alienated. The lands are administered on behalf of village groups by the Native Land Trust Board.