Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica has emphasized the importance of providing sufficient time for consultations with natural resource owners before making any decisions regarding development projects. He made this statement during a media conference following his meeting with the Stewards Alliance on Resources (SAOR), which includes representatives from the Fiji Council of Churches, the Social Empowerment Education Program Ltd, and various landowners from areas such as Navunikabi in Namosi, Laselase in Nasigatoka, Votua in Ba, Navitilevu in Ra, and Silana in Dawasamu.
Mr. Kamikamica acknowledged that a lack of consultation has been an issue in the past, particularly over the last 16 years prior to the current government. He assured attendees that this government is committed to consulting on all matters. He noted that further consultations would occur regarding some ongoing projects.
During the meeting, members of the alliance expressed their concerns about various mining hydro projects. Mr. Kamikamica shared that the aim of the discussions was to understand these concerns and to reaffirm that they have been taken into account. He highlighted that the presence of the Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts, Ifereimi Vasu, along with the general manager of the TLTB, contributed positively to the dialogue.
He remarked that many of the landowners’ concerns stemmed from issues raised during the previous administration’s tenure, suggesting that inadequate consultation at that time caused lingering apprehensions. Moving forward, Mr. Kamikamica assured that the importance of consultation would be prioritized in all future developments, which will also depend on the project’s nature and specific requirements.
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