Andy Irons, in more privatized times. Photo: Jeff Flindt
By Nick Carroll
In what seems like a dramatic turn of events, the Fijian Tourism Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has announced that all restrictions on access to Fiji’s surf spots will be lifted.
Under the new Regulation of Surfing Areas Decree — reported by Radio Fiji on Thursday — all title to surf spot access in the islands will be cancelled. This would include premier surf zones such as Restaurants and Cloudbreak, long held as an exclusive by the Tavarua Island surf resort.
The spots would become in effect free to anyone with a boat to get to them.
The decree excludes any challenge in court against the cancellation of leases.
Namotu resort owner Scott O’Conner confirmed the news to SURFING, saying it comes as much a surprise to him as anyone else. The first he heard of the decree was in the paper on Friday morning.
“We’re just waiting for the date to be handed down,” he said of the decree, which will be activated at a date to be determined by the Tourism Minister. “It could be tomorrow, it could be in a month.”
He said the Fijian villagers who’ve been leasing Cloudbreak and Restaurants to the Tavarua resort for years are “freaking out … there’s three villages there that will be a million bucks a year worse off.”
Scott said he had no idea why the Minister was cancelling the titles, but that “there’s a long way to go yet” in the story.
(See below the report from Radio Fiji):
Surf’s Up in Fiji with new decree
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Surfing areas around the country are now open to anyone who wants to use them under the new Regulation of Surfing Areas Decree.
Tourism Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says this will allow access to any surfing area in Fiji without payment or compensation, and enhance Fiji’s image as a premier surf travel destination.
In the past some top surfing areas were restricted by hotels or resorts that had leases over the area and imposed payment and conditions for their use.
The Decree cancels any existing instrument of title, including any lease or license – without payment of any compensation.
All interests for any surfing area in Fiji have been vested to the Director of Lands and the decree excludes any challenges in court against the cancellation of existing interests.
As the Minister responsible, Sayed-Khaiyum will determine a date for the commencement of the Decree.
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Are most of you blind here? The Fijians have gained nothing here, especially any kind of ‘freedom’
The current militarized regime of Fiji has banished all foreign press, restricted religious freedoms, taken away business owned for generations and if you dare say anything negative publicly, off to jail you go.
This most recent decree took away an agreement and land rights of the Fijians ( which I agree also effected Tav and Nam owners). This was a legal agreement. Just as many other non surf related agreements were too dissolved. The Fijian people are prisoners of this corrupt regime…But I do agree, it is time for a change, a change in government that is.
Cloudbreak will no longer be the pristine, uncrowded, no attitude, magical place it once was…that is too bad.
No-one owns the waves, especially seppo’s on a tiny pacific island.
Its unfortunate that some of the locals miss out on some income but they’ve had it too good for too long, and with more people coming to surf these waves the revenue from tourisim with be more evenly distributed amoungst the people.
Fiji is a great place but because you cant (until now) surf the 2 best waves alot of people arent going.
As for crowds, well when its 10 foot cloudbreak I doubt that it will be crowded.
Personally, I hope the seppos go home and some fijian turns the island into a budget surf resort for everyone to enjoy.
My Uncle who was born and still lives there said that when cloudbreak was became exclusive not even the people who lived near it could surf there.
I can only wonder how crowded it will get now that its open to everyone. Or if it will get crowded at all. Oh well, atleast the locals can surf there now.
Finally, after 25 years it is a free place to go, hopefully some other resort like Nihiwatu will also need to open the gate.
Places like Tavarua and Nihiwatu are for the selfish benefit of fat middle age men or surf industry figures who just want want want. They are all about greed.
Take your black and white sea snakes and shove it.
Was always amazed that the tiny island of Tavarua was like apartheid.
White people in the lodge & cabins, blacks in the shacks in the back.
Capitalist Hawaiian-Americans & Japanese golfers & fishermen.
Of course, surfers who don’t give a flying fish.
Food is lovely. Fiji is a big mound of dirt.
Everyone is pissed about Tavarua but do they know how much they do for the Fijian’s?
If you work for Tavarua and your child is really sick they are flown to the US. Do you know how many surgeries they have performed or medicines they have provided. You think the Hilton or the Sheraton are paying to fly sick employees to the US?
How about the fact that there was no electricity or running water for those villages before they got there. They have helped them physically and monetarily build churches and houses.
The land was leased from from the villages. They leased their ancient fishing grounds. Other villages had their own fishing grounds that were for them. It would be like telling one indian reservation. ‘Hey you are making too much so we are all going onto your reservation to take what you have.’
The Fijian’s that work there love it. They are proud that they have for generations helped to built the resort.
No to mention that Tavarua is a fragile eco system. They are very careful with the removal of waste, use of detergents, etc. They are very careful about how they park the boats as to not hurt the reefs. Will the other day boats have the same respect?
Don’t fool yourselves, this is all about greed. No one cared about those waves until Tavarua came to be. Now they see $$$ and they all want in. Ultimately the three villages will be the ones that loose out if Tavarua goes away. Who will make money from this? The other resorts that is who.
There is also a dictator running Fiji at this point. Freedom of the press has been dissolved. People are scared. Money is switching hands in really weird ways. You want something you just pay the right person. How do you think this came about? This was not a law for the people. It was a law for some people who wanted in.
As for the apartheid thing. That guy knows nothing. Do you think white guys during apartheid were physically building anything for the South African’s. Do you think they where godparent’s to their children? Whatever Gio. Try to talk about what you know. BTW Fijian’s don’t consider themselves ‘black’. Seems that you think of them that way though.
I was planning to visit Fiji for the first time and now I am learning that you can only get to cloudbreak if you are staying at one of those resorts. Is this still so? i hate that
Go right ahead and paddle out. While your out there drop in on Druku. Its a long boat ride back to the mainland with a bloody nose. Once you get to the beach good luck trying to find someone to put all the pieces of your board back together. I would rather pick on some local kid at Velzyland.