Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed strong support for the government’s decision to reinstate the Buy Back Scheme, now referred to as Buy Back Scheme 3.0, after a hiatus of 32 years. This initiative aims to address historical injustices surrounding the dispossession of iTaukei land during Fiji’s colonial era. In remarks made during a recent “A Conversation with the PM” column, Mr. Rabuka emphasized the necessity of this program to begin rectifying past wrongs.
The Prime Minister highlighted that previous agricultural land ownership surveys failed to accurately reflect the historical claims of iTaukei families, many of whom lost their ancestral lands to European settlers. He explained, “Lands recognized as belonging to the mataqali, but had no surviving members, have been categorized as Crown lands. The revival of the Buy Back Scheme will provide these communities with the opportunity to reclaim land that is essential for their cultural and economic rejuvenation.”
The revamped Buy Back Scheme is part of the People’s Coalition government’s broader land reform agenda. Mr. Rabuka addressed concerns regarding constitutional and economic complexities that may arise from the initiative, assuring that towards sustainable land use, the scheme will include safeguards to ensure proper governance of bought-back lands via Trust Deeds.
Minister for Lands Filimoni Vosarogo has reaffirmed the importance of the Buy Back Scheme, describing it as a necessary step toward recognizing historical injustices and restoring land to iTaukei landowners. The government is allocating a proposed budget of $10 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to assist in implementing this initiative, which will enable eligible landowning units to reclaim their ancestral lands that were alienated during colonial rule.
Previous iterations of the Buy Back Scheme, which first launched in 1989, showed success in enabling landowners to reclaim properties, facilitating community connection and enhancing livelihoods. Notably, past programs allowed for the purchase of 24 freehold parcels totaling over 14,700 acres. Today, interest has been expressed in acquiring ten new parcels, signaling an eager response from landowning units keen to restore their heritage.
This renewed effort to focus on indigenous rights holds a hopeful promise for the iTaukei community, aspiring not only to recover ancestral territories but to also elevate their socio-economic conditions. By working towards the restitution of ancestral lands, the Fijian government is advancing social equity, thereby reinforcing the cultural identity and community well-being of the iTaukei people for generations to come.
Leave a comment