“In our meeting at one of the mahogany growing areas, we were told that the Government and the
TLTB had renewed the leases of their land without their consent,” says Savenaca Narube, the Leader of Unity Fiji.
Narube adds, “We have been told this story on numerous occasions around Fiji. The landowners are
losing control of their land.”
The Leader of Unity Fiji continues, “Landowners confirmed to us that the lease on their land for mahogany started with five cents per acre per year. This is an insult to the landowners. The lease is well below the market value of their assets. This exploitation, which is pervasive in Fiji, has contributed to the perpetual poverty that the landowners have been suffering for a very long time.”
“Landowners give their land for development in the hope that they will make a reasonable return on their assets. But they have been badly let down. And to add salt to injury, the leases have been extended without their approval,” says the former Governor.
“The landowners told us that the mahogany trees took 30 years to mature. While waiting for the trees to mature, landowners cannot survive on the lease payments. When the trees mature, other companies are contracted to harvest them. Landowners are only paid the stumpage which is grossly insufficient for their 30 year wait,” explains Narube.
“I also heard for the first time the serious environmental damages that the mahogany trees cause to streams. The mahogany leaves clog up the streams, turns the water black, and kills the fish and plant life which are important sources of food for the villagers. This necessitated a reassessment of the appropriateness of the trees to Fiji. This has not bee done before leases were renewed.”
“The wealth from the mahogany forests is harvested by millers and exporters while the landowners
remain in poverty.”
Narube says, “We were informed that the governance of the industry is heavily politicised. The Prime Minister and the Attorney General are personally involved at the Council level. This is unheard of. The purposes of their involvement are unclear. From what we have seen, they are there for political purposes only and not for the interest of landowners.”
Narube concludes, “The story emerging from the mahogany forests is a tragic reflection of what is happening across the country. The resource owners are not receiving anywhere near the market return of their assets. In interfering in the governance of the industry and in doing nothing to rectify the matter, this Government is leading and abetting this exploitation. Our natural resources are our future. But sadly, and for too long, we lack the leadership and the vision to realise our dreams.”
TLTB had renewed the leases of their land without their consent,” says Savenaca Narube, the Leader of Unity Fiji.
Narube adds, “We have been told this story on numerous occasions around Fiji. The landowners are
losing control of their land.”
The Leader of Unity Fiji continues, “Landowners confirmed to us that the lease on their land for mahogany started with five cents per acre per year. This is an insult to the landowners. The lease is well below the market value of their assets. This exploitation, which is pervasive in Fiji, has contributed to the perpetual poverty that the landowners have been suffering for a very long time.”
“Landowners give their land for development in the hope that they will make a reasonable return on their assets. But they have been badly let down. And to add salt to injury, the leases have been extended without their approval,” says the former Governor.
“The landowners told us that the mahogany trees took 30 years to mature. While waiting for the trees to mature, landowners cannot survive on the lease payments. When the trees mature, other companies are contracted to harvest them. Landowners are only paid the stumpage which is grossly insufficient for their 30 year wait,” explains Narube.
“I also heard for the first time the serious environmental damages that the mahogany trees cause to streams. The mahogany leaves clog up the streams, turns the water black, and kills the fish and plant life which are important sources of food for the villagers. This necessitated a reassessment of the appropriateness of the trees to Fiji. This has not bee done before leases were renewed.”
“The wealth from the mahogany forests is harvested by millers and exporters while the landowners
remain in poverty.”
Narube says, “We were informed that the governance of the industry is heavily politicised. The Prime Minister and the Attorney General are personally involved at the Council level. This is unheard of. The purposes of their involvement are unclear. From what we have seen, they are there for political purposes only and not for the interest of landowners.”
Narube concludes, “The story emerging from the mahogany forests is a tragic reflection of what is happening across the country. The resource owners are not receiving anywhere near the market return of their assets. In interfering in the governance of the industry and in doing nothing to rectify the matter, this Government is leading and abetting this exploitation. Our natural resources are our future. But sadly, and for too long, we lack the leadership and the vision to realise our dreams.”
