Sale Of Fiji Island Opposed

Fiji’s Acting Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Knox-Mawer granted an sxtension of time in April for the caveat lodged by Ratu Aporosa Lo, af Nasinu village, Ovalau, against the sale of Wakaya Island to American real estate broker Robert Hunter. Hearing of the case in the Supreme Court was adjourned to May 15.

The caveat had been lodged pending the hearing of an application For an injunction restraining the defendants in the action from disposing of Wakaya Island except in accordance with their duty as trustees. The defendants are Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Fiji’s Chief Minister, and Ratu Edward Cakobau, Minister for Labour, in their capacity as trustees of the island, which was bought in 1957 by the Fijian Affairs Board for $90,000.

In January, it was reported that Mr. Hunter had acquired Wakaya for $340,000 ( PIM , Mar., p. 61).

In his affidavit to the court, Ratu Aporosa was described as Tui Wakaya and head of the land-owning unit of Naivakadula. His action, he said, was on behalf of himself, the land-owning unit, the indigenous community of Wakaya and the indigenous people of Fiji.

Ratu Aporosa claims that his rights and those of the original land owning unit of Wakaya Island have never been alienated in law and that therefore they remain the rightful owners of Wakaya Island.