- The High Court in Lautoka has today delivered its judgment in the native title claim brought by the representatives of the Suvavou village (the Plaintiffs) over the city and suburbs of Suva city.
- The High Court has ruled in favour of the State, and has completely dismissed the Suvavou native title claim against the State.
- This is a landmark ruling in favour of the State, in which the plaintiffs had claimed that their native title over the Suva city continued to subsist when their ancestors were relocated to Suvavou in 1882. The actual reliefs claimed against the State included payment of substantial monetary compensation including for freehold title, as well as injunctions requiring the State to transfer all State leases in the Suva peninsula for the benefit of the Plaintiffs.
- The case was initially heard in 2006 by Justice Pathik. However, due to his illness and retirement, the matter was reheard before Justice Inoke in Lautoka in July 2010. The hearing before Justice Inoke took about 10 days.
- In his judgment, which is some 94 pages, Justice Inoke has ruled all the native title to all of the Suva peninsula lands have been extinguished.
- As such, the claim by the Plaintiff has been wholly dismissed by the Court, in favour of the State.
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For any clarification please contact AG MLO - Rachna Lal on Tel: (679) 330 9866 X 856 | Mob: (679) 926 0990