Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has come out in support of landowners who have called for the repeal of the Mahogany Industry Development Act 2010.
Mr Rabuka, in his contribution to the debate on Bill No 28 said that the Act had been of no benefit to the landowners.
The Bill seeks to amend the Act and to transfer chairmanship of the Mahogany Industry Council to the Forestry Minister and abolish the Mahogany Industry Council.
Mr Rabuka said that over the past 16 years, success had eluded the industry, in particular the landowners, while only a select few had benefitted.
“The cry of the pine and mahogany landowners has been raised again and again in this august House, including petitions that have been denied under the Standing Orders,” he said.
“These include the reforms in the mahogany industry after Sustainable Forest Industries at Rovadrau, Navua, which was a source of employment for hundreds of people, closed.
“Two other sawmills at Navutu and Waivunu, Bua lay idle and awaiting the outcome of the reforms.”
The Prime Minister said another challenge for landowners were the onerous and costly terms and conditions for application, processing and the granting of licences for logging.
“This did not facilitate the entry of landowners to participate due to the inability to obtain licences, acquire plant and machinery and leaving them the only option of becoming labourers.”
The 2010 promulgation established the Mahogany Industry Council whose role is to supervise and direct the Fiji Hardwood Corporation Ltd and the Fiji Mahogany Trust in the performance of their functions.
Mr Rabuka said the 2010 promulgation also tied the hands of the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) when it comes to issuing leases over native land used or to be used for growing mahogany.
“This 2010 law promulgated outside of Parliament supersedes the iTaukei Lands Trust Act or any other inconsistent law.
“In section 16(2), the 2010 law specifically overrides section 4 of the iTaukei Lands Trust Act, which gives the TLTB a fiduciary duty to ensure the well-being and interests of landowners, including their future generations.
“These are provisions that since 2010, require urgent removal.”
