3 Jun 2013

Vanuatu police takes hands off approach to Santo land dispute

7:21 pm on 3 June 2013

Police on the Vanuatu Island of Santo says they do not intend to take action over a planned occupation of Palekula beach as the case is before the courts and no illegal act is taking place.

According to the Vanuatu Daily Post, a dispute over the beach involving the Suri Tarusa family and other landowners is reaching an occupation stage.

The newspaper says several courts have ruled the beach area belongs to the Suri Tarusa family, but the land has been leased by another Santo land owner and sub-leased to a third party which plans to build a resort and a marina in the area.

The family blames the Strata Title Act for undermining its rights to the land.