AD HOC JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE ON LAND
Resolution passed on 27th April, 2004 for the establishment of a 17-Member Joint Parliamentary an Ad Hoc Select Committee on Land comprising 8 Government Members, the Leader of the Opposition, 6 Members of the Fiji Labour Party and 2 nominees of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga in the Senate, to make recommendations on the land issues.
Terms of Reference :
Relying on the frank and open-minded approach taken by the members of the bi-partisan Talanoa Sub-committee in their collective effort to identify and build mutual understanding around the crucial issues on land contained in their progressive report to the Leaders;
Recognising the basic values, principles, and objectives of building trust and confidence, creating fairness and equity, providing best possible security, and giving optimum terms and conditions which underpin the land issues that emerged from the discussions in the Talanoa talks;
Acknowledging the efforts made in the past to establish a sound basis for legislating landlord and tenant relationship based on the understanding and appreciation of the significance of land to culture, livelihoods, and the national economy;
Realising the urgent need to arrive at the resolutions to the land issues to meet the overarching vision of fostering the social and economic advancement of the landowner and tenant communities;
Mindful of the values and vision stated above:
Agrees to establish a 17-Member Joint Parliamentary Select Committee comprising 8 Government Members, the Leader of the Opposition, 6 Members of the Fiji Labour Party and 2 nominees of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga in the Senate, to make recommendations on the land issues with specific reference to the following:
(1) The Joint Parliamentary Select Committee shall continue with the frank and open-minded approach of the Talanoa talks with a sense of urgency to arrive at the most satisfactory outcome for all, and adopt as its guiding principles the values of building trust and confidence; creating fairness and equity, providing best possible security; and giving optimum terms and conditions with the view to fulfilling the overarching vision of fostering the social and economic advancement of landowner and tenant communities, and shall:
(2) Scrutinise and consider the important aspects of the issues on land relating to:
(a) tenure;
(b) rental;
(c) rental fixing mechanisms;
(d) rental assessment mechanisms;
(e) premium considerations;
(f) Compensation on improvements;
(g) arbitration on disputes;
(h) good husbandry; and
(i) Any other related matters.
(3) Ascertain the practicality and suitability of ALTA or NLTA with possible amendments;
(4) Ensure that either option adopted incorporates the needs of landowners and tenants as currently safeguarded in ALTA and NLTA, and also satisfies the values and fulfils the vision stated in the guiding principles;
(5) Commission a committee of legal experts to give advice, through a report, on legislative options referred to in (3) above;
(6) Report fully on all the above matters and the proposed suitable legislation or amendments designed to achieve the present and future objective as set out in the guiding principles; and
(7) Submit their full report and recommendations by September 2004 at the latest.
Members:
1. Hon. Laisenia Qarase;
2. Hon. Senator Qoriniasi Bale;
3. Hon. Jonetani Galuinadi;
4. Hon. Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu;
5. Hon. Ro Teimumu V Kepa;
6. Hon. Solomoni Naivalu;
7. Hon. Tomasi Vuetilovoni;
8. Hon. Millis M. Beddoes;
9. Hon. Mahendra Pal Chaudhry;
10. Hon. Poseci Bune;
11. Hon. Pratap Chand;
12. Hon. Dr. Ganeshwar Chand;
13. Hon. Udit Narayan;
14. Hon. Krishna Prasad;
15. Hon. Senator Ratu George Cakobau;
16. Hon. Senator Ratu Kinijoji Maivalili; and
17. Hon. Senator Asesela Ravuvu.
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