Mr Netani Sukanaivalu MINISTER FOR LANDS AND MINERAL RESOURCES OPENING ADDRESS AT THE HANDING OVER OF THE NAWAILEVU BAUXITE SITE SURFACE LEASE
Venue: Nawailevu, Bua - 25th February, 2010
- The Commissioner Northern Division;
- Representatives of His Excellency the Ambassador of China to Fiji;
- The Director of Aurum Exploration (Fiji) Limited;
- The Turaga ni Mataqali and vanua of Naicobo, Noro, Nalutu, Buli Navakasiga and Buli Lekutu;
- The Permanent Secretary and officials of the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources;
- Distinguished Guests;
- Ladies and gentlemen,
I am extremely pleased to be here on this historic occasion to celebrate with you all the issuance of the surface leases to Aurum Exploration (Fiji) Limited.
I say that this is a historic occasion for a number of reasons:
The first is that we are now witnessing the issuance of the first set of leases under the Land Use Decree 2010 and the Land Use Regulations 2011. Many of you may be aware that the Land Use Decree emanated from Government’s Land Reform initiative where the intention is to maximize the use of idle and under-productive land for economic and social purposes.
Government’s Land Reform initiative is also meant to address some of the long-standing issues which include but are not limited to the need to ensure that landowners get fair returns for the use of their land and tenants get security of tenure. The leases that are being issued today will achieve exactly what Government intended.
The landowners will get returns that are based on a fair market value and on the best principles and practices of valuation. The monies they will receive cover a wide range of areas from compensation for the loss of fishing rights and royalty, to other benefits such as employment opportunities as well as the chance to be engaged in providing food and catering and transportation for the Mine.
Aurum Exploration (Fiji) Limited, on the other hand, will through these leases, secure unhindered access to the land for the duration of the term of the leases.
A significant point to note is that Aurum Explorations (Fiji) Limited will effectively become Fiji’s first Bauxite Mining Company. This is historic for Fiji as it will now expand the exploration and mining of mineral resources from what used to be restricted to just a few natural resources like gold and copper.
At this juncture, it is my pleasant duty to convey to Aurum Explorations (Fiji) Limited the Government of Fiji’s sincere appreciation for your confidence in Fiji.
I understand that you have been exploring in Fiji for several years and you are now moving to the next level which is mining. I have no doubt that you will be able to achieve your targets as soon as the Mining Leases are issued to you in the next few weeks.
I am particularly grateful for the manner in which you have negotiated with Government officials and the landowners. I am advised by the Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral resources that the negotiations were done in very good faith. Please accept Fiji’s sincere appreciation.
I also wish to extend the Government of Fiji’s profound gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China. Our gratitude is based on the sincerity of China’s friendship with Fiji.
I know that it would be very challenging for companies to conduct business in a foreign land if they do not have or are not supported by their respective Government representatives.
The fact that Aurum Explorations (Fiji) Limited and several other investors from China have now established themselves in Fiji is testament to the very able support and encouragement they have received from you’re His Excellency and the Embassy officials in Suva.
This support serves to strengthen the political, cultural and socio-economic relations between our two countries. The people of both China and Fiji will undoubtedly be the main beneficiaries of such alliance. For this, I wish to convey my personal gratitude and that of the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama as well as the gratitude of the people of Fiji for your support.
Ladies and gentlemen, today I also wish to extend our collective appreciation to the all the Chiefs and landowners of the respective lands that will now become the focus of Fiji and the world.
The landowners in Fiji have long been the disadvantaged party as they have not been getting fair returns for the use of their land. This will now change with the arrangements currently in place and the landowners will now reap the benefits from the use of their lands.
I have been reliably advised that you have all come to the negotiation table with an open mind and with good hearts. This venture will not be possible without your faith and confidence in Government and in the company.
The Prime Minister is extremely pleased with the outcome of the negotiations and especially your goodwill.
Ladies and gentlemen, I know that a few other stakeholders were involved in charting our path to where we are today. I mention in particular the Commissioner Northern Division and his officials and the Roko Tui Bua and his staff, among other stakeholders.
I need not mention that the support you have all demonstrated is very important for the people of Bua in the same way that it is very important for the entire community in the Northen Division and for Fiji as a whole.
The fact that the negotiations have been concluded in a span of just a few months reflects very well on your leadership and capabilities.
This is the type of drive that Government wants because it will serve to strengthen the Government’s focus on its “Look North Policy” that is aimed at generating greater economic returns in the North.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to celebrate such a momentous occasion and I do not intend to hold us back any longer. Suffice to say that the Government of Fiji is very appreciative of all your collective efforts and wishes you all every success in this venture and in other areas that we will be working together on.
Vinaka vakalevu.
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