Ela Beach titled as ‘recreational place’

By HELEN TARAWA
Minister for Lands and Physical Planning Justin Tkatchenko says Ela Beach is titled and directly under National Capital District Commission as recreational reserve and public place.
He was responding to claims that Ela Beach was customary land. Tkatchenko said he had taken a former lands minister and secretary to task over illegal acquisition of land at Ela Beach.
“If you look at the history, Ela Beach has always been public space, a recreational area for everybody to enjoy,” he said.
Tkatchenko said the land was under NCDC which was rightfully in charge of all public reserves.
“That is the trend with what we are doing with all recreational land throughout the city,” he said. “We are titling it and securing it under NCDC for everybody to utilise now and into the future.
“We look forward to the official opening by July/August so people can come and use it with the new development that’s been done.”
Tkatchenko said that was the first stage of Ela Beach development with another two stages to come. “Once completed, it will be as good as any other recreational beach with facilities in the region and the world,” he said.