‘More benefits on native leases’

Landowners get more benefits if they lease out their lands through native leases, says the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources permanent secretary Raijeli Taga. During the submission on the review of the 2022 Audit Report on Economic Sector on Thursday (12/09), she said most of the money collected were returned to the landowners if the land were native leases. “There are benefits that goes to the landowners that is more than what they get if they put it through as native leases,” Mrs Taga said.

“It is because the survey is done by the Government; the land is surveyed and the survey plan is approved, without any cost to them (landowners). “And all the money that is received goes to them. Only the operational cost is held by the ministry.



All the other costs added to that is returned to the landowners.” She added that their awareness trainings with landowners included their capability to get sustainable developments for their projects. “The awareness training that is conducted, includes their capability to get sustainable developments for their projects.

“It’s not only how to fill in the statements and produce reports, but also how they use their money, so they will be able to build up and have other projects and invest in it to get more returns for the landowners.”.