In July 1, 1976, it was announced that the Fiji Pine Commission became the statutory corporation.
The commission evolved from the Fiji Pine Scheme as a government department directly responsible to the Agriculture Fisheries and Forests Ministry for the development of the pine industry.
This change-over was a culmination of several sears of planning by the Government and the landowners.
More than 1000 people gathered at the now headquarters of the Fiji Pine Commission where a traditional ceremony for the change-over was to be held.
This was reported by The Fiji Times on July 9 that same year. Distinguished guests were the New Zealand High Commissioner, Graham Ansell, the Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests, Winston Thompson, the manager of the Native Land Trust Board, Josevata Kamikamica, the Secretary for Fijian Affairs and Rural Development, Josua Cavalevu, a representative of the Commonwealth Development Corporation, David Lincoln Gordon and the Commissioner Western, Major Jesoni Takala The day marked both the death of the Fiji Pine Scheme and the birth of the Fiji Pine Commission. Most of the people at the ceremony were native landowners from Nadroga, Ba and Bua who have entered into a form of partnership with the commission to develop their land for industrial wood production.
The ceremony began with the presentation of the sevusevu followed by the qaloqalovi in traditional Fijian custom by the people of Cuvu in Nadroga.
The presentation was made to Mr Ansell, the guest of honour. In his address, Mr Ansell said: “In the development of the pine scheme the Fiji Government played the most significant single role in the formative stages.
“Much is owed to the foresight of the Fiji Government in recognising the potential for forestry development and in moving quickly to take advantage of Fiji’s ability to grow pine.” “In 1990s, Fiji will have its own pine plantations, a natural resource which will be the comfort of its population and the envy of many countries.
“New Zealand itself owes much to the softwood industries as a means of diversifying its economy and for that reasons the New Zealand Government, since 1972, has been associated in the pine scheme through the provision of plant, equipment, training and personnel. The UK, through the Commonwealth Development Corporation, has made loan funds of 5 million pounds available on concessional terms and also sup plied personnel to help run the enterprise. The governments of Australia, the US and India had also assisted the scheme in some way, and that gave an impression of the degree of international confidence in a scheme of which growing recognition was already evident abroad. The success of the industry to date demonstrates what could be achieved by a concerted cooperative effort.
“This is not only important for what the pine scheme has been able to achieve materially, but it provides an excellent model for similar land-use partnerships elsewhere in Fiji. “And so today opens a new chapter in the pine industry’s development with the convening of the inaugural meeting of the Fiji Pine Commission.
“The commission represents a new partnership between the landowners and the Government.”
Mr Ansell stressed that landowners would bring forward the same spirit of co-operation and involvement which has been evident up to date and concluded by asking the landowners not only to recognise the economic potential of forestry development and its significance to the Fiji economy, but also to be willing to continue their support the future.
“The New Zealand Government will continue to make available to the people of Fiji its experience in forestry development and management,” Mr Ansell said.
