Legalise Occupancy, Koya Tells Residents
The Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands and Mineral Resources, Faiyaz Koya has told people who are living in informal settlements on mataqali lands to ensure that they legalise their occupancy.
This he said could be done through the iTaukei Land Trust Board who are the mediators between the landowners and the occupants of such land spaces.
“Ensure that the land you have purchased is regularised and formal,” Mr Koya said.
Having regularised their piece of land will also help ensure that these occupants have legal documents in their hands and if there were any issues, it could be clarified,” he said.
Mr Koya made these remarks during a ‘talanoa’ session held at the Bethel Crusade Pre-school yesterday after a Nakasi resident asked him for help.
Malti Devi complained that she had bought two pieces of land at Wainibuku from a land owner who some eight months later sold it to someone else.
She was asking if she could be assisted in getting back her money.
“I had paid $2000 each for two pieces of land some months ago and my children always went there to clean it up because we were looking at building a house there,” Ms Devi said.
Ms Devi said few months later when she went to see the land, someone else had built their house on it.
“When I asked the land owner he said I will get another piece of land, but I have not been allocated any land so I want my money back,” Ms Devi stated.
The Ministry took note of the Ms Devi’s grievance but also advised her to go to the iTLTB.
The deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Malakai Nalawa warned the members of the public that any such land dealings should be done under the iTLTB.
“In most instances squatters just have an agreement with the land owners and iTLTB is not aware of it, so regularise your land and ensure that the land you are occupying is formal,” Mr Nalawa said.
Moreover, Mr Koya also told his officials to take note of those who did not have homes and needed land to make their homes.