DISPUTE ON AFL’S BEACON’S LEASE AT YAKO MATAQALI LEWEIVARAGA

• Contrary to some media reports, the Native Land Trust Board wishes to clarify that the dispute at Yako Village involving members of Mataqali Leweivaraga have been resolved amicably and to the satisfaction of all concerned.
• A meeting was convened at the village on Tuesday, 17 September 2002, chaired by the Roko Tui Nadroga and attended by the Chief Executive of Airports Fiji Limited, Mr. Jone Koroitamana and some of his senior officers, Officers from the Fiji Police Force in Nadi and staff from the NLTB’s Lautoka Office as well as the landowners.
• It was revealed in the meeting that CAAF has a valid lease over the piece of land for a term of 75 years from the 1st of July 1956, with an annual rental of $2.00. The rent was increased to $200.00 per annum from 1992 and later to $300.00 from 1997.
• However, the two parties (Airports Fiji Ltd & NLTB) resolved, prior to the meeting, that they should work out a solution on the matter. It was agreed in principle that the parties negotiate for the surrender of the current lease and the issuing of a new one to the company on new terms and conditions.
• Members of the mataqali have accepted in good faith the resolution made and will be awaiting the meeting of the AFL/NLTB where the terms and conditions of the new lease are to be discussed and relayed to them. This meeting is scheduled for this Friday, September 20th.