15 Aug 2005

Fiji's NLTB helps land lease renewal bids

1:47 pm on 15 August 2005

Fiji's Native Lands Trust Board says it's facilitating a consultation process between landowners and tenants towards signing early renewals of leases.

The NLTB's north-western manager, Solomoni Nata, says that more landowners are joining the list of those who want leases on their land renewed.

Mr Nata says the non-renewal of leases has left a vicious social and economic cycle, with people losing their incomes and vacant land reverted to bush.

He says the NLTB is supporting dialogue between 60 landowners in Tavua and tenants to renew leases which are due to expire in three years.

"We have consulted the landowners and also consulted the tenants on the processing of new leases before it expires in 2006 and onwards for another, say, two to three years. And they have come to an agreement that we are to renew new leases."

The NLTB's north-western manager, Solomoni Nata