Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama stressed that the government has given more protection to iTaukei land ownership in the country than ever before.
While speaking in Korovisilou today, Commodore Bainimarama said the new laws that they have introduced are practical, effective, fair amongst members and further guarantees the absolute protection of the rights of the iTaukei not to have their land alienated from them.
The Prime Minister said all of these laws have been introduced without the so called entrenched provisions of the past and he says the draft constitution has not included the so-called entrenched provisions.
He said this is because no law should be above parliament, because parliament represents the voice of the people.
But the Prime Minister said this does not mean that property or land ownership will not be protected.
During a Citizens Constitutional Forum session last week, a constitutional lawyer Anthony Regan said there is no guidance to the Parliament on what the land legislation should say and there is no protection of existing land legislation from amended.
Regan then highlighted that some other clauses on how to deal with land development have been removed from the 2012 Constitution Commission draft.
Meanwhile Commodore Bainimarama stressed to people that they should not be misled by certain politicians and NGOs that are trying to sow the seeds of fear and mistrust.
Commodore Bainimarama said this is the sort of old politics that must not be allowed to creep back into the national dialogue
Story by: Vijay Narayan and Watisoni Butabua
More protection to iTaukei land ownership-PM
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