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Landmark Fiji Environmental Law Judgment finds TOTAL negligent and liable for pollution incident, upholding Fiji's Environment Management Act and the principle "Polluter Pays"

Mar 2, 2020 / by James Sloan posted in Environmental Management Act 2005, Fiji land law, The Environment Management Act, Environmental governance, Environmental decision making, Commercial law Fiji, Fiji Environmental law, Fiji Court of Appeal, Fiji Planning and Environmental Law, pollution in Fiji, Total negligence, Fuel leak Fiji

A unanimous decision of Fiji’s Court of Appeal Ramendra Prasad v Total (Fiji) Limited, Civil Appeal No. ABU 90 of 2018, 28 February 2020 (Lecamwasam, JA, Almedia Guneratne, JA, Jameel, JA) has found Total (Fiji) Limited (“TOTAL”) negligent and liable for a fuel leak that was discovered in September 2008 close to Nausori on the island of Viti Levu, in Fiji.

In finding TOTAL negligent, liable and responsible for an underground fuel leak, Fiji’s Court of Appeal has affirmed Fiji’s Environment Management Act, 2005, and the principle “polluter pays” as well as affirming the actions and findings of Fiji’s Department of Environment.

In this legal update we focus on the key legal principles affirmed by the Court of Appeal as they are significant in terms of Fiji’s environmental jurisprudence and good governance.

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Fiji Planning law: Fiji’s government has announced new Town Planning Schemes may be adopted for Suva, Lautoka and Nadi - an opportunity for consultation and good decision making

Jul 1, 2019 / by James Sloan posted in Environmental Management Act 2005, Sovereignty, administrative law, Fiji land law, Torrens title system, The Environment Management Act, Environmental governance, Environmental decision making, Environmental Impact Assessments, Commercial law Fiji, Fiji commercial lawyers, Fiji Planning Law, Town Planning Fiji, Town Planning Schemes Fiji

In common with other common law jurisdictions, Fiji exercises State control over land including but not limited to how it may be developed. The regulation of development falls within the domain of planning and environmental law.

The government has announced that in the public interest it is in the process of updating its Town Planning Schemes for Suva, Lautoka and Nadi. This is an important nation building initiative because a Town Planning Scheme will shape future development in all these cities. But, it is also a significant undertaking that provides an opportunity for, and in our view, requires - wide consultation. If this consultative process is successful it will result in better planned development that along with the effective regulation of environmental standards, is essential to create sustainable and resilient cities and towns for Fiji’s future and its citizens' well-being.

In this update, we take a look at Fiji’s planning law framework and set out various reasons why it is vital for Fiji’s citizens to become involved in the consultation process that is being led by the Ministry for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Local Government, Housing and Community Development to create and adopt new Town Planning Schemes.

The reasons that public involvement is vital include but are not limited to:

  • the significance of Town Planning Schemes to the way planning law and decisions operate in Fiji law
  • the fact that the decisions made pursuant to Town Planning Schemes will have far reaching effects on all citizens, and may affect existing property rights
  • Town Planning Schemes should be suited to Fiji’s context and linked to a shared and bold vision for Fiji’s future.

Each citizen who becomes involved in this consultative process has an opportunity to provide her/his views on how Fiji’s towns and cities should develop to improve but also what aspects of Fiji’s culture and values should be part of that future too.

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