REPLY TO QUESTIONS ON THE FULTON COLLEGE'S LEASE: FIJI SUN
The Native Land Trust Board is very much aware of the problem regarding the Fulton College lease. In fact the lease of land on which the Fulton College is situated will be expiring in the year 2004.
The Board had carried out the requirements for the renewal of the lease in 2001 and a lease offer was issued to the college governing body, the Australasian Conference Association Limited.
The offer has not been accepted and discussions are still ongoing on the issue.
There have been some differences between the lessee and the landowning unit and the NLTB had to make a lot of clarifications on those as well as related matters between the two parties (LOU & ACAL).
As far as the Board is concerned, we understand that the "ACAL" is considering the lease offer in detail and its financial implications to the college and hopefully they will come up with a definite answer to this in the immediate future.
On Government's assistance, the present Government has made known its stand that it will provide assistance through payment of lease premium to enable the renewal of leases on schools for educational purposes.
The suggestion that the college is on the verge of closure is we think far-fetched and unreasonable.
A lot of money is involved in this case and we should allow for time for negotiation. The Board is optimistic that a solution acceptable to all parties will be finalised before the lease expires in December 2004.
