The productive native land lying idle across Fiji has been an issue for some. Since before Fiji was ceded to Britain in 1874 there were many foreign occupiers and claimants to areas of iTaukei land that had come about through dealings between Chiefs and Europeans. However, Governor Sir Arthur Gordon stopped all native land sales after cession. Sir Gordon believed that the land of the Fijians should be best preserved in order to avoid the risk of the bulk of them losing their land to cunning foreigners during the colonization period.
Sir Gordon’s fears were well founded. He had been aware of the New Zealand land wars and the social impact on the Maoris with the loss of their lands. Therefore, the great generosity of the Fijians would no doubt leave them landless. Subsequently Sir Gordon devised policies to prevent this from happening in Fiji. However, these policies did come at a cost of lost opportunities for increased development and prosperity. But the land is still Fijian owned – at least for now! Today after more than 135 years since the Deed of Cession it seems more unscrupulous and devious people are after the native land. But at what price? The years have shown that investors and developers generally want the land for next to nothing, while landowners want the most from their land lease but this has not been the case. Now we have a usurper Frank Bainimarama holding Fiji hostage with help from his brutal military goons and corrupt military officers. Bainimarama, who is running from the law, is only concerned with staying out of prison and remaining in power where he can enjoy the good high life with his family and friends - at the cost of the taxpayer. To achieve his aims, the dictator Bainimarama has joined alliances with a devious and corrupt failed lawyer – khaiyum, who is spearheading the assault on the native Fijian lands. Khaiyum is doing this on behalf of his devious business associates and their corrupt greedy friends and families. The former Prime Minister of Fiji, Mahendra Pal Chaudhry had also tried to get at the land during his time in office. The coup of 2000 put a stop to that. Now khaiyum is attempting to get at the land, but it will only happen if the people let him go through with it. The people are slowly getting into their rhythm and beginning to make a stand against the corrupt bainimarama junta. They are also seeing khaiyum’s satanic writing on the wall and getting a better understanding of what it will mean for them. Khaiyum's plan is to use his illegal Land Use Decree and rigged Constitution that the people don’t want and the dictator bainimarama to achieve his objective. Have no miss understanding, the dictator, while being used, will also benefit greatly from all the land deals. He and khaiyum are already getting a share from other deals. This practice has kept a number of genuine investors away. Under Khaiyum’s illegal Land Use Decree the PM of the day has supreme power to do whatever he/she thinks is good for the economy or their pocket. They can ignore the needs and wishes of the landowners. They could even offer up land to investors and friends at very low or at no rent at all. There is nothing the landowners can legally do about it. They have no say in the matter unless they stand-up and act together against the junta. The Land use decree is out right land theft. As a country Fiji would increase its economic viability and wealth by increasing the commercial utilization of its land assets. This could also be a major step forward in the economic development of ordinary indigenous Fijians and other communities across Fiji. If it is done right. But it won’t happen if the PM, under the illegal land use decree, pockets the wealth for himself and his friends and ignores the landowners. This is Khaiyum's usual mode of operation -- say all the right sounding and fancy words while in reality he robs the system and Fiji for all he and Bainimarama can get. The illegal Land Use Decree is a dangerous document and together with the Khaiyum constitution, which he fabricated without the support of the people, provides a real chance that Fijian landowners and their descendants will be losing control of their productive lands for the next 99 years or longer....... Unless, the landowners and people stand-up now against this illegal and corrupt junta and their fabricated khaiyum constitution and illegal decrees.
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