State has final say on reforms: Qetaki

www.fijitimes.com - Monday, January 18, 2010

THE Native Land Trust Board has clarified that the revocation of the Agricultural Landlord and Tenants Act can only be decided by the State.

Responding to an article which appeared in the Fiji Times, NLTB General Manager Alipate Qetaki said the revocation of ALTA was part of the Board's submission to government under its new Land Reform Program.

Mr Qetaki said government would make the final decision on the Land Reform Program.

He said the Land Reform Program was a government-sponsored program.

"Government will make the final decision on land reforms," said Mr Qetaki.

He said the NLTB was a stakeholder in the land reform process and, like other stakeholders, would make its views known to government.

Under the reforms, the NLTB proposes that all leases under native land should come under the legal framework of the Native Land Trust Act.

Mr Qetaki had said the reform should benefit all the landowners, government and all the relevant stakeholders.