The Native Lands Trust Board (NLTB) has formed a special committee to prepare submissions on the proposals in the draft People’s Charter, on making land more accessible for economic and social purposes.

NLTB spokesperson Nimilote Naivalumaira confirmed to Fijivillage that the senior managers met in Suva yesterday to deliberate on the draft Charter proposals.

Naivalumaira said a committee of senior managers has been formed in Suva to co-ordinate NLTB's response and all regional managers will also be sending their comments and views on the proposals.

He stressed that the NLTB's submissions will not be released to the media or the public until after it has been endorsed by the NLTB Board of Trustees and submitted to the Secretariat of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji.

The draft Charter proposes that greater flexibility in the tenure of leases issued should be ensured, so that they are sector specific, taking into account the unique needs of each sector.

It proposes that a common legislation for the administration of all agricultural land be adopted, to include management of native, crown and freehold land, under the framework of the Native Lands and Tenants Act and any meritorious aspects of ALTA be retained.

The draft Charter also proposes that NLTB and government put in place an initiative to encourage villages to better utilize their unleased land under reserve.