5 Sep 2006

Fiji's prime minister hits back at some hoteliers

8:59 am on 5 September 2006

Fiji's prime minister has launched a scathing attack on hoteliers who have warned that they might have to shut down operations if the government's Qoliqoli Bill is passed in its current form.

Laisenia Qarase has told Radio Legend that some of these hoteliers are going berserk over the issue and misinterpreting the Bill completely.

Mr Qarase says some of them have still have a colonial attitude and look down on the Fijian people.

He says they cannot continue to marginalize the indigenous people of Fiji and should give them their proper dues in relation to their rights to their land and their Qoliqoli.

Mr Qarase says they should look at this as the foundation for building partnerships between the investors and the landowners.

He says he has come across quite a lot of foreign investors who are going to establish hotels along the coast who are already getting into partnerships with the landowners for the use of their Qoliqoli.

Mr Qarase says that's the sort of attitude that Fiji wants, not threats.