Bala Heralds Good News to Settlement
Government will be looking at subdividing Vunivau A and Vunivau B and the lease will be for 99 years. Surveyors will be there to look at the area soon.
Residents of Vunivau A and Vunivau B in Labasa were happy after being assured that their settlement would soon be formalised.
The assurance from the Minister for Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment Parveen Bala lit up the faces of residents who turned up in large numbers.
They also raised issues they had been facing.
Mr Bala also conducted a consultation session.
There are about 700 people living in the two areas.
Mr Bala said people needed to cooperate to make Government’s work easier.
“I have come with representatives in different departments so that we will be able to answer all the questions you have for us. We are here to serve you so feel free to raise issues,” Mr Bala said.
“We have paid the premium on behalf of the tenants to the landowners. We are looking to subdivide these two areas and the lease will be for 99 years. “Surveyors will be here to look at Vunivau A and Vunivau B.” Mr Bala added “I will be in the North to visit other areas. For the subdivision to start as soon as possible. So the residents will need to work together”.
An overjoyed resident, Subhash Chand said he would now return home a happy man.
“All my questions were answered by Mr Bala and I am grateful that he was able to come to us and clarify everything,” Mr Chand said. “I am glad that once our area is subdivided we will be able to have lease of 99 years.
“I thank the Government for thinking of us and Mr Bala for taking his time out to visit us and to assure us.”
Another resident,Tara Wati said she was thankful to have attended the consultation session.
“No one works in my family. My husband goes around collecting bottles. We survive with the help of the social welfare money my husband receives,” the 66-year-old said. “It is a big help that the Government has paid the premium on our behalf.
“This is the first time a minister has come and it feels good that people of high position actually coming and hearing all our concerns.”