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May ReleasesREVIEW OF THE MINING ACT The Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Lt-Col Neumi Leweni has today confirmed that the mining Act is now under review on the PM’s directive. Speaking to the villagers of Malake this morning, Lt. Col Leweni says one of the main reasons behind the review is the compensation component. “In the mining act, it states that anything 6ft underground belongs to the Government and landowners are only compensated on damages that happen on their land,” added Lt-Col Leweni. Citing the copper exploration in Namosi, where the landowners are seeking more compensation, Lt-Col Leweni said that what is now also under review and will be included in the Act is for a certain percentage of revenue generated from minerals be given to landowners. “We are still working on the exact percentage that needs to be paid to landowners. “We believe that a well managed mineral policy will contribute positively to national growth and social welfare improvements for all Fiji Citizens,” Lt-Col Leweni said. OIL CLAIM NOW UNDER RESEARCH The Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources today led a team of geologists from the Department of Mineral Resources on a fact-finding mission to Malake Island in Ra. This follows a report received by the Ministry from the people of Malake claiming that oil deposit was discovered on the island. Lt Col Leweni assured the people of Malake that further research will have to be conducted to justify the claim. “The purpose of the visit is to come and have a look at what is now claimed by the people of Malake to be oil. “People should not be mislead and be given false hope,” added Lt.Col Leweni The substance was first discovered way back in 1972. Lt-Col Leweni acknowledged the people of Malake for the reception provided to the team. He was accompanied by the District Officer Ra, Joji Satakala and the Directors for Lands and Mineral Resources, among other senior officials. Press Release No: 03/10 Earthquake in the West of Viti Levu An earthquake occurred in Fiji today (31.05.2010) at about 11.29am. The earthquake was located about 11km NNE of Yasawa (Latitude 15.27 degrees south and 177.76 degrees east). The earthquake originated at a depth of 25km below the surface and it measured 4.3 on the Richter scale. No felt reports or any damages received so far. People who felt the earthquake and wish to give more information are requested to contact the Mineral Resources Department on 3381611 or by fax 3370039. June ReleasesPress release (24.06.10) EARTHQUAKE IN THE MONASAVU AREA An earthquake occurred in Fiji today (24.06.2010) at about 09.46am. The earthquake was located at about 20km Northwest of Monasavu Dam (Latitude 17.8 degrees south and 178.3 degrees east). The earthquake originated at a depth of 38.0 km below the surface and it measured 3.5 on the Richter scale. No felt reports have been received so far from the respective areas close to the earthquake source due to its small size. Attempts made to FEA Monasavu landline and areas close to the epicenter of the quake proved futile. People who felt the earthquake and wish to give more information are requested to contact the Mineral Resources Department by telephone on 3381611 of by fax on 3370039. Press release (02.06.10) STATE LAND REGISTER UNDER REVIEW The land register administered by the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources is currently under review to ensure an effective administration of state land, says Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Lt-Col Neumi Leweni. “With whole of Government seeking social stability and sustainable economic development, the state land register is crucial to these aspirations being realized,” Lt- Col Leweni explained. The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources recognizes that land is a source of wealth and for the ministry to unlock that wealth an effective system of state land registration needs to be in place. Lt-Col Leweni adds, “Good land registration would enable Government to clearly determine the best use of the land and get maximum returns from it.” In addition, Lt-Col Leweni says one of the major concerns is the poor policing of state land and the developments undertaken on these lands. With rental arrears of approximately $22m as of May this year, and 284 state leases to expire by the end of this year, Lt-Col Leweni stressed, the Ministry will focus on how best state land could be utilized, to ensure maximum return to Government whilst at the same time contribute effectively to land reform in the country. Press release 02.06.10 No: 04/10 BOUNDARIES MARKING NECESSARY: LEWENI The Permanent Secretary for Land and Mineral Resources, Lt-Col Neumi Leweni said if rivers and creeks change its course through natural means, land boundaries will be automatically affected. He made the comment in response to a recent land dispute highlighted recently in the media. Lt-Col Leweni said, “where land is along ‘moving waters’-waters of the sea or river or streams, the boundary moves either forward or backward when the water gradually recedes.” The concern came as two landowning units claimed ownership of the said property while a third mataqali disputed the claims where river and creeks have been used to mark boundaries. While the marking of boundaries is necessary to define its full extent, ‘the condition of the operation of the rule is that this case must be the result of natural occurrences.’ “The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources understand the importance of boundaries which are critical aspects for ownership as well as investment, for returns from investment and better utilization,” Lt-Col Leweni said. With increase in land dealings, he said, so has the increase of boundary disputes, however a thorough boundary survey will ensure less disputes. “Effective utilization should bring about employment creation and contributes to the socio-economic stability,” Lt-Col Leweni concluded. Meanwhile, landowning units are advised to seek assistance from relevant authorities on issues concerning their land. Press Release 30.06.10 WORKSHOP ADDRESSES BACKLOG The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources today held a one day Land Clerks workshop to help its land clerks to speed up the processing of leases. Permanent Secretary, Lt.Col Neumi Leweni said officers in the Ministry need to work smarter to uplift government services. It usually takes an average of six months to process expired leases. However, the Ministry has now fine-tuned its operations to reduce the turnaround time to 2-3 months. “By improving our work processes, we can learn to produce more than what we are currently doing. “All it needs is a general appreciation of the bigger picture as Custodian of State Land with a responsibility to speed up the work processes in order to assist the public better,” Lt-Col Leweni said. The objective of the workshop was to enable land clerks to: · Be aware and clear about their workflow processes · Understand the importance of being efficient with their respective work processes · Respond professionally to the needs of the public · Advise customers on the filling of relevant forms · Ensuring minimum mistakes in the file process · Reduce the turnaround time Participants at the workshop included land clerks from the Lautoka, Labasa and Suva office and military personnel who will be attached with the Ministry. The one day workshop was held at the Government Training Centre. Press release 19.06.10 MALAKE OIL SEEPAGE The Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Lt-Col Neumi Leweni today said that the substance found on Malake Island in Ra is not oil. Lt-Col Leweni revealed the confirmation from an analysis undertaken by the Department of Mineral Resources in addition to an independent analysis conducted by University of the South Pacific’s Institute of Applied Science Laboratory. He said the analyses revealed that the substance contained gasoline and not liquid petroleum. “The location of what confirmed to contain oil seepage was completely barren without any positive sign of oil seepage showing signs of dark and black colors. “Field sampling for sea water showed no positive sign of oil seepage of any possible black color,” Lt–Col Leweni reiterated. It is also important to note that geological structures like faults and joints are the only pathway for oil seepage to the surface, Lt-Col Leweni explained. The substance claimed to be oil was found on Malake Island from the 24-26th of last Month. Press release 15.06.10 PAY UP LEASE ARREARS: LEWENI Collecting state lease rentals on time has been a major challenge for Government, says Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Lt-Col Neumi Leweni. And to improve on rental collection the Ministry of Lands is enlisting the assistance of the disciplinary forces. “As of now, Government is currently owed approximately $22m in lease rental arrears,” Lt-Col Leweni added. While the Ministry appreciates that tenants may have genuine financial difficulties and are unable to pay the rent, Lt-Col Leweni said,“ the Ministry aims to adopt a firm and fair approach to arrears recovery offering all tenants reasonable options to clear up their arrears.” The Ministry is now encouraging lease holders to come forward and pay their arrears. In addition, Lt-Col Leweni adds that the poor policing of state land have denied Government the opportunity to generate revenue that could contribute to the nation’s socio-economic development. July ReleasesPress release 24.06.10 EARTHQUAKE IN THE SOUTH OF SUVA An earthquake occurred in Fiji today (25.06.2010) at about 02.29am. The earthquake was located about 39km South of Suva (Latitude 18.55 degrees south, Longitude 178.45 degrees east.) The earthquake originated at a depth of 99km below the surface and it measured 3.4 on the local Richter scale. No felt reports could be obtained from Kadavu and other parts of Suva this morning. Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Lt-Col Neumi Leweni said, “this is not a rare event as the area is also prone to deep seismic events and it does not pose an immediate threat to the Fiji group.” The details are based on the assessment and the detection by the Mineral Resources Department observatory. For those who felt the earthquake and wish to give more information are requested to contact the Mineral Resources Department on telephone: 3381611 or by fax on: 3370039. Press Release 29.06.10 EARTHQUAKE IN THE NORTH OF LAUTOKA An earthquake occurred in Fiji today (29.06.10) at about 08.39am. The earthquake was located about 60km NNE of Yasawa-i-rara, 180km NNE of Lautoka (Latitude 16.20 degrees south, Longitude 177.80 degrees east). The earthquake originated at a depth of 30km below the surface and it measured 4.1 on the local Richter scale. There were no felt reports from Yasawa-i-rara this morning. This area is also prone to shallow seismic events as it is on the Fiji Fracture Zone but it does not pose an immediate threat to the Fiji Group. The detail is based on the assessment and the detection by the Mineral Resources observatory. For those of you who felt the earthquake and wish to give more information are requested to contact the Mineral Resources Department on 3381611 or by fax on 3370039 Press release 07.06.10 NEW APPROACH TO SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS The large number of people illegally occupying state land has become a serious concern to Government. Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Lt-Col Neumi Leweni today said that Government strongly disapproves illegal occupation or squatting. He said, “Government will now implement measures to discourage illegal occupation of land. “The Ministry is now meeting with other stakeholders in Government to identify measures to reduce squatting,” Lt-Col Leweni added. For years, said Lt-Col Leweni, squatters have been exploiting loopholes in the Government machinery. As a result the nation has lost out on revenue which could have been generated from these lands. “We fully understand that past policy inconsistencies and general lack of seriousness has lead to a serious problem of squatting and development of unplanned settlements within the urban centres,” Lt-Col Leweni reiterated. The Ministry envisions that with the implementation of new measures, Government would be able to: · Reduce the number of people squatting and squatter settlements · Make more land available for productive use to ensure maximum returns to the nation · And contribute to a dynamic land reform in Fiji Press release 1.7.10 EARTHQUAKE IN THE SOUTH OF FIJI An earthquake occurred in Fiji yesterday (30.06.10) at about 04.32pm. The earthquake was located about 320km SSW of Suva, (Latitude 20.01 degrees south, Longitude 176.03 degrees east.) The earthquake originated at a depth of 420km below the surface and it measured 5.5 on the local Richter scale. There were no felt reports in Kadavu as of yesterday afternoon. This area is also prone to deep seismic events as it is on the Hunter Fracture Zone but it does not pose an immediate threat to the Fiji Group. The details are based on the assessment and detection by the Mineral Resources Department observatory. For those who felt the earthquake and wish to give more information are requested to contact the Mineral Resources department on telephone 3381611 or by fax 3370039. Press release 05.07.10 MINERAL SECTOR LOOKS PROMISING: LEWENI Fiji’s mineral sector is at a very promising stage of growth, says Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources Lt. Col Neumi Leweni. He made the comments based on the number of exploration work and mining lease application which have increased significantly in 2008 and 2009, with exploration expenditure of more than FJ$25m. “Government is keen to see the continuation grow of the mineral sector. This is in the context that well-managed mineral sector developments contribute positively to national growth and social welfare improvements for all Fiji’s citizen,” Lt.Col Leweni said. Additionally, he adds that gold production has increased and it is forecasted to continue rising based on further capital investment at the Vatukoula Gold Mines. “While gold production is not at peak, it is highly encouraging given the global financial crisis of 2008,” Lt.Col Leweni explained. In addition, Government this year will focus its attention on industrial minerals specifically gravel deposit and sand deposit mapping programs. “The general aim of the work this year is to identify all potential gravel and sand deposits in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu,” says Lt.Col Leweni. The specific areas of target are: 1. Gravel and Sand · Namau river gravel · Ba river · Rewa river · Sigatoka River · Navua River 2. Hardrock Quarry · Lomolomo 3. Clay minerals and other elements · Matailobau Press release 09.07.10 EARTHQUAKE OCCURRED IN THE SOUTH OF FIJI GROUP An earthquake occurred in Fiji today (09.07.10) at about 00.48 this morning. The earthquake was located at about 385km SSW of Doi Island, 565 km SW of Nukualofa (Tonga). The earthquake originated at a depth of 670km SSE of Suva and measured 5.4 on the local Richter scale The detail is based on the assessment and the detection by the Mineral Resources observatory. For those of you who felt the earthquake and wish to give more information are requested to contact the Mineral resources Department on 3381611 or by fax on 3370039 Press release 04.07.10 MINISTRY BEGINS LAND REFROM EXERCISE The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources is now trying to ascertain and identify the total number of idle and un-utilized state land. Permanent Secretary, Lt-Col Neumi Leweni confirmed the exercise has already begun in the central division, as part of the Ministry’s commitment to land reform. Land reform is part of government’s overall intent to facilitate access to unutilized land whilst at the same time look at ways to encourage the more efficient and productive use of land. The Ministry has to this end, established a Land Reform Division following the Prime Minister’s endorsement for the Ministry to go ahead with its programmes to implement the Land Reform initiative. “The Divisional surveyor’s in the north and the west are now working closely with their respective Commissioners to indentify land that has already been leased out but remains un-utilized or left idle.” “The data and information collected will help us correct an extremely inequitable distribution of land, to increase productivity,” Lt. Col Leweni said. With the land bank now established, Lt.Col Leweni has encouraged land owners to come forward if they want their land to be fully utilized. “This will also help investors who are looking for land,”Lt.Col Leweni said. Land constraints has and will continue to serve as the impetus for the people, Lt- Col Leweni said, “therefore we need to make strategic shifts towards a higher value-added and more land efficient economic activities, and at the same time think up more productive ways of using land to support future growth.” Lt-Col Leweni adds that the higher productive use of land will enable us to accommodate both higher economic activities and a higher quality of life for the people. Table 1 State Land-Agricultural in the Central Division.
Press release 09.07.10 EARTHQUAKES ARE A FACT OF LIFE: LEWENI Earth tremors are normal occurrences and members of the public should not be overly alarmed, says Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources Lt. Col Neumi Leweni. The comments came when the region experienced four earth tremors in a week.(23/6-30/6) “The most important thing is to be prepared at all times,” he said. Lt.Col Leweni said the earth is always revolving and it is absolutely normal that the tectonic plates shift and cause tremors or earthquake movements. “These movements are of different magnitudes and the impact on the land depends on the location and depth of the earthquake. “The onus is on the public to prepare well at all times,” Lt.Col Leweni said. He said the frequency of occurrences indicate that earthquakes occur more frequent than cyclones. “Earthquakes cannot be predicted with certainty compared to cyclones,” Lt.Col Leweni said. He adds that the recent earthquakes were not felt and goes undetected by people due to factors such as huge depth, low intensity and some because of its occurrences far in the ocean from inhabited islands. Press release 12.07.10 MINISTRY DEVELOPS GROUNDWATER RESOURCE POLICY The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources is currently developing a groundwater resource policy, says Permanent Secretary Lt. Col Neumi Leweni. The policy aims to address and strengthen the management and exploitation of groundwater resources in the country. With current laws being silent on groundwater, Lt. Col Leweni said, “this groundwater policy will set the platform for the proper management and preservation of this valuable resource.” This will be the first groundwater resource policy, he added. Lt .Col Leweni reiterated that majority of rural areas do not have surface water or are not accessible to Government reticulated water system in which they use groundwater as their source of water. “This is not the only use of groundwater as it is also used for irrigation and more recently by bottled water companies as a source for their bottled mineral water brands,” Lt.Col Leweni said. The policy is expected to be implemented soon. Press release 12.07.10 LEWENI EMPHASIZED ON WATER IMPORTANCE The public must ensure they exhaust all avenues to utilize available surface water before pursuing ground water options, says Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources Lt.Col Neumi Leweni. The advice came as the Ministry pursues the development of the groundwater resource policy for the nation. Surface water especially rainwater freely available and does not require much to collect, Lt. Col Leweni says “Basically all that is needed is a roof with proper guttering and a storage tank. He reiterated that rainwater collection needs to be maximized prior to using groundwater resources. Lt. Col Leweni has also reminded the public for the protection of groundwater sources by having groundwater protection zones. “Most of the water sources especially in rural areas and villages are not that well protected and maintained and this can lead to water borne diseases,” Lt.Col Leweni reiterated. He has also urged villagers to set up water committees and to involve women and children in the management of groundwater and water resources. Last year the Ministry investigated a total of 26 groundwater sites and drilled 17 groundwater boreholes. Six boreholes were drilled in the first quarter this year. Out of these, nine boreholes have sufficient water and can be used for water supply. Press release 27.07.10 Crown lease review The Ministry of Lands is currently reviewing applications for transfers and mortgages of crown leases, says Permanent Secretary Lt. Col Neumi Leweni. Lt.Col Leweni made the comments as the Ministry continues to receive a high number of applications involving astronomical amount of transactions, and Government as state land custodian is not getting its fair share from these transactions. “One of the greater concerns is the Transfers of Agricultural Leases to higher uses such as Tourism Development, and other commercial and industrial uses. “Most lessees are selling their agricultural leases to developers and overseas buyers at quite high prices offered by these buyers,” Lt.Col Leweni said. There have also incidences where local land speculators have taken advantage of the situation by buying agricultural leases from poor farmers and selling them to overseas buyers at very high prices. “The sad part is those who really want to farm or develop the land are being forced to pay high prices,” he adds. Lt.Col Leweni reiterated that there is a very urgent need to curtail such practices and introduce a more effective method to screen and process these applications The processing of consents to transfers and mortgages on crown lease has been put on hold as of the 6th of July with the only exception is for Transfers by way of administration or to family members by way of ‘Love and Affection’. A public announcement will be made by the Ministry in the near future to outline the new conditions of ‘Applications for Transfers and Mortgages of crown lease’. Press release 29.07.10 EARTHQUAKE IN THE FIJI GROUP An earthquake occurred in the Fiji Group today (29.07.10) at about 05.30pm today. The earthquake was located at about 24 km NE of Buliya Island, Kadavu and 80km SE of Matuku Island in Lau. The earthquake originated at a depth of 27km below the surface and measured 4.7 on the local Richter scale. The earthquake was felt around the Government Buildings area and much closer areas. The details are based on the assessment and the detection by the Mineral Resources department observatory. For those who felt the earthquake and wish to give more information are requested to contact the Mineral Resources Department on telephone: 3381611 or by fax on: 3370039. August ReleasesPress release 04.08.10 Ministry invites tender for Mt. Kasi The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources has invited interested parties towards tender proposals for exploration and development of the Mt.Kasi Mineral prospect. Permanent Secretary Lt. Col Neumi Leweni says this is an opportunity for interested applicants to apply. “As of now, 12 companies have declared their interest for Mt. Kasi and this is an opportunity for them to write to the Ministry. “The potential for profit is there due to the significant higher gold prices now, then when the mine was last in operation in 1998,” Lt. Col Leweni said. A copy of the tender package together with historical reports on Mt.Kasi is available in digital format upon application and a fee of $USD50.00 is charged to cover the processing of documents and mailing cost. Lt. Col Leweni said, that tenement granted to the successful bidder will not be a mining lease but rather a prospecting or exploration license. He adds, that terms for such licenses is usually 3 years however in special cases, a 5 year term can be granted. The Ministry expects all applications to be received by August 31st, 2010. Press release 04.08.10 GET LICENSE SAYS LEWENI The Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources Lt. Col Neumi Leweni has issued an advice to importers, suppliers and retailers of fireworks to obtain a ‘Permit to Possess & License to Store and Deal’ in order to sell fireworks. Lt. Col Leweni said, that any fireworks consignment found in the possession of retailers without relevant licenses will be thoroughly investigated. “Suppliers/wholesalers responsible will be taken to task for selling fireworks to non-licensed retailers. This he adds, “is based on the ‘explosives act’ and the ‘General business practice on fire safety.” For the import, storage (wholesale/warehouse and retailing of fireworks, the Ministry requires the following documentation before proper approving the Licenses for retailing purposes: · Application for License to store and deal firework: form can be obtained from the Department of Mineral Resources at 241 mead Rd, Nabua and could be also downloaded from the MRD website:www.mrd.gov.fj · NFA certificate for each wholesale and storage facility/warehouse and retailing outlet: the certificate is issued by the National Fire Authority after inspection of the storage facilities/warehouses and retailing outlets for fire safety compliance. Press release 19.08.10 Earthquake in the south west of Fiji An earthquake occurred in Fiji yesterday (18.08.10) at about 07.50pm. The earthquake was located at about 277.5km Southwest of Sigatoka (latitude 19.0 degrees South and 174.9 degrees East). The earthquake originated at a depth of 133km below the surface and measured 4.1 on the Richter scale. No felt reports received so far from the respective areas close to the earthquake source. The analysis is based on the detection techniques by the seismology unit of the Mineral Resources Department. People who felt the earthquake and wish to give more information are requested to contact the Mineral Resources Department by telephone 3381611 or by fax 3370039. Press release 31.08.10 More interest in Land Bank The Permanent Secretary for Lands & Mineral Resources, Lt-Col Neumi Leweni today confirmed that the land bank will be operational in a few weeks from now. He said Government through the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources and the Solicitor-General’s Office are now finalizing the details of the regulations that will bring the Land Use Decree into effect. Lt-Col Leweni made the comments as staff of the Land Use Unit embarked on a visit to the Northern Division last week to inspect land that could soon be deposited into the land bank. “Developing the regulations is one of the first tasks that the Land Use Unit was tasked to do in collaboration with the Solicitor General’s office, while the visit to the Northern Division is the beginning of an exercise that will need to be undertaken in other parts of the country. “The regulations will clearly spell out the policies and guidelines for the land bank. This includes how land could be designated by the Prime Minister before it is deposited into the land bank,” Lt-Col Leweni said. Lt-Col Leweni said that Government has an overarching responsibility to strike the right balance between the needs of landowners and the tenants or investors. “It is our responsibility to safeguard both landowners and tenants/investors alike,” he said. On the visit to the Northern Division last week, the team led by Director Land Use Unit Mrs Laisa Raratabu visited the Vunilagi estate, which was once a thriving copra estate since the 1920s. Staff from the Land Use Unit has identified at least 600 acres of idle land on Vunilagi Estate and a recommendation will now be made to the Prime Minister to deposit these idle lands into the land bank. The team also visited two buyback schemes in the Savusavu and Matakunea areas at the bottom of Natewa Bay. Land from both these schemes could also be deposited in the land bank. September ReleasesPress release 08.09.10 Earthquake in the east of Taveuni An earthquake occurred in Fiji this morning (08.09.10) at about 04.14am. The earthquake was located at about 72.2km East of Taveuni (Latitude 16.9 degrees South and 179.1 degrees West). The earthquake originated at a depth of 22km below the surface and it measured 5.8 on the Richter scale. Reports felt in Taveuni, Savusavu and Labasa but no threat of possible tsunami to be triggered. The analysis is based on the detection techniques by the seismology unit of the Mineral Resources Department. People who felt the earthquake and wish to give more information are requested to contact the Mineral Resources Department by telephone on 3381611 or by fax 3370039. Deep sea mineral exploration a major source of revenue: Leweni Deep sea mineral exploration can become a major revenue earner for the nation, says Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources Lt Col Neumi Leweni. Lt-Col Leweni made the comments following the gazetting of the revised fees schedule for deep sea mineral exploration. The Mining Amendment Decree No. 39/2010 was gazetted in July 2010. “This new fee schedule will give investors a competitive fee structure that aims to promote deep sea mineral exploration in Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). . “What this essentially means is that there will be more revenue for government and the nation. At the same time, the new fee structure will also enable Fiji to be more comparable and competitive with countries like Papua New Guinea and Tonga that are currently engaged in similar exploration activities,” Lt Col Leweni said. He said Fiji’s minerals sector is undergoing various reforms which will eventually be beneficial to the nation, the resource owners and the investors. “Government will ensure that the reforms will not only better facilitate the growth of the sector, but that they will eventually result in the general good of the nation in terms of our socio-economic development,” Lt-Col Leweni said. Land use unit embark on second visit to the North Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, is determined to contribute to economic growth in the Northern Division through a greater focus on land-related and agricultural developments, says the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Lt Col Neumi Leweni. Lt-Col Leweni made the comment as staff of the newly established Land Use Unit embarked on its second visit to the Northern Division yesterday. The team will pay a courtesy call to the Divisional Commissioner Northern Lt.Col Inia Seruiratu before visiting various state land on Vanua Levu including Taveuni, and having discussions with native land owners who wish to lease their land to Government under the land reform initiative. “This new fee schedule will give investors a competitive fee structure that aims to promote deep sea mineral exploration in Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). . The team will also pay particular attention to agricultural leases, some of which comprise large estates. Most of these estates in the past had contributed significantly to the nation’s economy through the agricultural sector including the copra industry and beef farming. The estates include Vunilagi, Matakunea, Qaranikula, and Waitavala, to name a few. “While Government supports other forms of development, it is also proper that the Ministry also facilitate agricultural development to help the overall effort of attaining food security and reducing imports,” Lt Col Leweni said. “The possibility of re-establishing an agro-industry is imminent in these areas so that we could add value to agricultural products for export markets especially so when Government is looking at declaring Malau as an international port of entry,” Lt Col Leweni said. The Land Use team will spend five weeks in the Northern Division. The areas to be visited include: Macuata
Cakaudrove
Taveuni
Bua
Earthquake in the Monasavu area An earthquake occurred in Fiji today (29.09.10) at about 11.30am today. The earthquake was located at about 92km east of Southeast of Suva (Latitude 18.2 degrees south and 179.4 degrees east). The earthquake originated at a depth of 40.0km below the surface and it measured 3.0 on the Richter scale. No felt reports received so far from the respective areas close to the earthquake source due to its small size as well as the depth at which it occurred. No expected damages to be inflicted by this minor quake. . People who felt the earthquake and wish to give more information are requested to contact the Mineral Resources Department by phone on 3381611 or by fax on 3370039. October ReleasesAn earthquake occurred in Fiji today (12.10.10) at about 12.33 midday. The earthquake was located at about 111.1km East South East of Vunisea, Kadavu (Latitude 19.4 degrees south and 179.2 degrees east). The earthquake originated at a depth of 34.0 km below the surface and measured 4.2 on the Richter scale. Reports felt in Vunisea and nearby vicinity but no damages expected to be triggered from this minor quake. People who felt the earthquake and wish to give more information are requested to contact the Mineral Resources Department on telephone 3381611 or by fax 3370039. November ReleasesThe Pacific Islands Geographic Information System & Remote Sensing (GIS & RS) Conference, 2010 will begin tomorrow at the Holiday Inn with the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources as one of the major sponsors. The conference which began in 1998 with a handful of GIS practitioners who wanted to share their developments and lessons learnt to the wider Fiji GIS community, this annual event has expanded into the largest regional meeting of GIS and Remote Sensing users in the Pacific region. The Ministry has encouraged Pacific Island users to present their developments and applications to a wider audience. This has attracted many software and hardware resellers and image data providers which resulted in partnerships with users in the region to develop and adapt GIS & RS applications. Initially the conference was for 3 days but due to overwhelming response, it has been expanded to 4 days. The conference covers presentations of a wide range of GIS & RS applications within various themes such as Utilities, Vegetation, Disaster, GPS, Marine, Urban Planning, Land Information, Spatial Data Infrastructure, Open Source Software and Web Mapping. The Pacific Island hospitality has always been a draw card for visitors to the Pacific. In hosting the Pacific GIS&RS Conference, we provide a platform for knowledge exchange and an opportunity for others to experience our cultures and traditions. The four-day conference will end on Friday, 26th November, 2010. December ReleasesMinister for Lands and Mineral Resources Netani Sukanaivalu, today hailed Government ministries and departments for facilitating the needs of a major investor from China in record time: a land lease for over 33 acres which would normally be issued over 24 months was today issued in just two months. Minister Sukanaivalu said this record-breaking turn-around time is what this Government had always wanted to do. “This is what Government had been saying all along – that Government ministries and departments must re-look at their systems and processes and ensure we reduce our turn-around time.” He said Fiji as a whole will only be able to attract major investors if its facilitation processes are reviewed with the intention of reducing the overall cost of doing business, while at the same time improving the timeliness and effectiveness of service delivery. “This means Fiji will have its second cement factory in a short while which could translate to reduced cost for cement. This could mean good news for the construction industry and for people wanting to build their homes,” Minister Sukanaivalu said. He thanked all the Government agencies in particular the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources for coordinating and facilitating the preparation of the lease document. Tengy Cement (Fiji) Company Limited is one of the first major investors who responded to the invitation from the Prime Minister to set-up business in Fiji, following the Prime Minister’s visits to China in the past few months. Acting Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Filimone Kau, today said that the company now intends to start work on the new factory as early as next month. Mr Kau said the quick turn-around time in issuing the lease was made possible through the understanding and collaboration of agencies like the Department of Town and Country Planning, the Registrar of Titles and Registrar of Companies offices, the Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau and importantly the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources. He thanked all the officers for the dedication and commitment to facilitating the issuance of the lease in the shortest time ever in the history of the Ministry. Mr Kau said leases would normally be issued in 18 to 24 months because of the need to liaise with a number of agencies within Government. “I whole-heartedly agree with the Minister that Government agencies must review their systems and processes,” Mr Kau said. He said the fact that this particular lease was issued in two months indicate that the systems and processes in Government are now due for an overhaul. “We’ve done this once and we could always do it again,” he said. Mr Kau said a lot also depends on the people: “Government workers must demonstrate the zest and commitment to delivering what Government wants. “This is long overdue,” he said. Mr Kau gave credit to the staff in the Ministry including his predecessor Lt-Col Neumi Leweni for jump-starting the record-breaking process within the ministry. The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources today formalized the lease agreement for the new cement factory in Veisari, Lami. Tengy Cement (Fiji) Company Ltd, a Chinese Investment Company was given consent by the Government to secure a 99 yr industrial lease to build Fiji’s second cement factory. The cement factory is expected to serve Fiji and the Pacific and will also reduce costs for home construction through competitive pricing of cement. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama today congratulated the company for their confidence to invest in Fiji. He said the company will certainly assist in national development particularly in the construction industry where cement is a major component for housing and business development. “Already the costs of cement has decreased even before Tengy Cement Fiji) Company Ltd begins construction of the factory, and this is already good news for the construction industry and the people of Fiji.” In response Tengy Cement Fiji Company Ltd Director Mr Bian Yu thanked the Fiji Government for its support and facilitation and in particular the effort of the Prime Minister in promoting Fiji as an investor friendly country in China. “We are grateful to be involved in Fiji and we can only hope that we will expand our coverage to the Pacific,” Mr Yu said. He added that his company will do its best to “build a factory that will manufacture high standard cement with very low price.” The cement factory is expected to bring in millions of dollars in investment and provide employment to more than 100 local people. |