The land tenure system should not only be fair to customary owners but also to users and society as a whole, the Governor- General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau said in Suva during a seminar in 1984.
He made the comment in his opening address at the Pacific regional seminar of the Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE) that began in Suva.
He said the traditional view concerning land in this region must be matched with the needs of the next century. “Fiji found a solution to this problem with the creation of the Native Land Trust Board more than 40 years ago,” The Fiji Times of October 23, 1984 quoted him as saying.
“In concept it showed a far-sightedness and depth of wisdom for which I believe all people of Fiji very good cause today to be profoundly grateful.
“However, I must make it clear that I am not for a moment suggesting that the trust board concept is exportable everywhere in the South Pacificor even anywhere at all, I am merely stating that by and large it suits us in Fiji, and we count ourselves fortunate in having inherited the concept at independence.
“As to what system of tenure will best suit the other island nations, and enable them to achieve whatever kind of economic development they deem desirable on their customary land, is of course for them to decide but it does seem to me that there are certain very basic principles which must be observed if any such system is to be successful.
“It must be fair to the customary owners, fair to whoever the occupiers or users of the land are, and indeed fair to that society as a whole,” Ratu Sir Penaia said.
He said the system should also be acceptable and understandable to the ordinary people of the nation.
He said for this, trained people were needed. Ratu Sir Penaia told 120 delegates from 15 Commonwealth countries and four representatives from the Federated States of Micronesia that the other challenge facing Pacific countries was the proper management and use of the vast marine resources included in the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones.
“Although in some places we may refer to our land problems as intractable, or difficult, or use even stronger language, we at least know what the problems are, what the potentials are, and in fact what the possible solutions are,’ from years of experience.
“However, the potential of the seas around us is largely still unknown, methods of managing and realising that potential are, as yet, largely undeveloped, and virtually all are untried.
“We must ensure that our shoals of tuna, for example, do not suffer the fate of the herds of buffalo which once roamed the plains of North America.
“I hope your discussions on this matter will lead to the proper awareness of the enormous task facing the nations of the region collectively.
“We must never forget that for some of the nations represented here, their marine resources are virtually their only hope for economic survival, let alone true economic independence; those nations which are more fortunate have a moral duty to bear this in mind,” he said.
