Labour welcomes land rent amnesty and interest waiver

[posted 26 March,2009,1600]

Fiji Labour Party thanks the interim government for agreeing to grant a moratorium to farmers on rent arrears for State agricultural land and interest on them.

The Fiji Labour Party had written to the Minister for Lands in November last year seeking amnesty for farmers in arrears of rent on State land and a waiver on interest payment if the arrears were paid within the amnesty period.

A similar request was made by the Labasa branch of the National Farmers Union.

“We had sought a six month amnesty from 1st December 2008 to 30 June 2009. But the FLP is really grateful to Cabinet for extending the amnesty period to a whole year ending December 2009,” acting FLP secretary general, Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi said.

Minister for Lands Netani Sukanaivalu said all interest due on outstanding rent as at 31 December 2008 will be waived.

“Interest charges constitute a significant proportion of the arrears and FLP is grateful for the waiver granted by the government,” Mr Vayehsnoi said.

FLP had argued that farmers were facing serious difficulties in view of the escalating cost of fuel and other farm inputs and damage to crops caused by recent natural disasters.

“We now call on farmers to take advantage of the amnesty period and the waiver on accrued interest, to clear up their rent arrears,” Mr Vayeshnoi said.