Government should be legally required to return state land to indigenous owners once it is no longer used for its original public purpose, according to a submission made during the review of the State Lands Act 1945.
Viliame Takayawa, former SODELPA General Secretary, presented the proposal at the Suva Civic Centre yesterday, arguing that the state’s continued control over “abandoned” or “commercialized” land lacks justification.
Takayawa said much of the state’s current landholding was acquired decades ago for specific needs, such as government administration, infrastructure, or agriculture adding that many of these original functions have since vanished.
He said that in several cases, these lands have been transitioned into commercial leasing or are being held by privatized entities like the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) and Energy Fiji Limited (EFL).
“This needs to be reverted back to the landowners, and then an agreement to be struck with the private sector that’s already there,” Mr. Takayawa said.
Takawaya said to formalize this process, the Act must include a statutory review mechanism which would systematically identify parcels of land no longer required for their declared public purpose and initiate their return to customary owners.
His recommendations also included the need to establisha National Land Tribunal Commission to handle historical land injustice, to move away from fixed rental income toward profit-sharing and equity participation for landowners.
Takawaya added the setting of lease rates based on the development potential of the land rather than its current use and creating provincial land development trusts to decentralize management.
The commission is currently gathering public feedback and has until January 30 to complete its review of the 1945 Act.
