Suva High Court Judge Justice Filimoni Jitoko has ruled that the land on which Fulton College in Tailevu is situated, was leased out without the consent of the indigenous landowners as required.

In his ruling in favor of the Yavusa Salatu, Justice Jitoko highlights that the Native Land Trust Board must consult the native landowners, as outlined in the NLTB Act before any native land is leased out.

The Yavusa Salatu took legal action against the NLTB and Fulton College after 100 acres of their land was excluded from their reserve claim after a report published in 1958. However, Justice Jitoko ruled that under the NLTB act, the land must be reverted to native reserve once the lease does expire which in this case was not done.

Speaking to Village News soon after, the Yavusa Salatu spokesperson Joe Waqa was delighted and said their land had been utilised for the last 33 years without their consent. Waqa said they now will allow the management of Fulton College to come forward and negotiate to lease the land back to them.