FIJI – A group representing some foreign landowners in Fiji says it’ll be mounting a campaign against travel to the country as a protest over land law changes.

The Fiji Landowners Association said many foreign landowners were having to sell off their land cheaply to avoid hefty fines brought in with changes to the Land Sales Act two years ago.

The association’s founder, Dave Rand, said the landowners had been told they would have to pay $1000 and disclose their finances if they wanted questions answered about the issue.

He said the travel ban was a way of shining a light on the thousands of foreign landowners who are affected and frightened.

“Once the state sponsors this type of fear and aggression it creates like an open season on anyone who’s there as a foreigner and it makes it unsafe for them to travel or free to roam, so to speak, so short-term it might be a little harmful, long-term we think this is a real benefit for Fiji and that’s going to be our stance going forward,” Rand said.

Rand said he paid about US$80,000 for two acres but with additional interest and fees over a 10 year period, the total investment reached over US$100,000.

He said similar sections of land had been flying out the door for between 15 to 25 per cent of what people have paid.

Rand also said the fine schedule was ridiculous and obviously designed to get people to sell and leave.

The law change in 2014 required foreigners who already own land in rural areas but had not built a house, to do so within two years or face a fine of 10 per cent on the property’s value every six months.

They also have to spend at least US$119,700 on constructing the dwelling and face fines of up to US$48,000 if they don’t comply. - RNZI‘I said fill it up, not put ‘em up’

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - The Speaker of Papua New Guinea’s national parliament, Theodore Zurenuoc, has confirmed a member of his staff is being investigated for allegedly using a gun to threaten other workers who would not refuel his car.

Port Moresby police received a report last week that a man armed with a pistol had ordered parliament fuel attendants to fill up his private vehicle.

Local media reports said parliament workers initially refused the man’s request because it breached the official refuelling procedure.

Zurenouc said the incident was now a police matter.

“Yes, I am embarrassed,” he said. “No-one should be carrying a firearm and threatening other parliament workers.”

Zurenouc confirmed the gun belonged to the parliament.

“How he had access to the firearm is a mystery,” he said.

The speaker said the man had not been disciplined yet, because investigations were still underway.

Local police confirmed they had received a complaint from parliament staff and were investigating. - ABC