30 May 2012

Vanuatu chiefs put land in communal lease

4:47 pm on 30 May 2012

Two communities in Vanuatu have decided to protect their customary tribal lands by putting them into a community lease.

All the Lelema chiefs have signed a letter and sent it to the minister of land describing the leased area and calling for halt on all other leasing in North Efate.

One the paramount chiefs, Kalkot Mormor, says there is a need to make sure that in future there is enough land for all Lelema people to build houses and gardens.

"Some big investors that are coming in wanted to take the whole island of Efate. So we decided to do it this way to protect our land."

Chief Kalkot Mormor says their lease is the first of its kind.