15 Nov 2003

Fiji Girmit Council asks chiefs to help solve land lease problems

10:12 am on 15 November 2003

Fiji's highest traditional body, the Great Council of Chiefs, has been asked to help solve the country's pressing land lease problems.

The Fiji Times reports the request was made by the chief executive of the Sugar Cane Growers Council, Jaganath Sami, when an Indian cultural group known as the Fiji Girmit Council paid its formal respects and pledged its support for the Great Council.

Mr Sami said they had turned to the chiefs because political leaders could not solve the problem.

He said the Great Council had played a major role in shaping the sugar industry and could do so again.

The Great Council chairman, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, said it was an important issue that the chiefs should lend their support to.