$12 Million Spend by Bhindi Family to Resettle Vatuwaqa Squatters to Makoi
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum yesterday announced the relocation to Makoi of 300 families, approximately 2500 people living in the informal settlements of Nanuku and Veidogo in Vatuwaqa.
The Nanuku and Veidogo land is owned by the K. Bhindi Brothers Limited, a company owned by the Bhindi family of Suva but now living abroad.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said they have had meetings with the squatter settlers, and the Bhindi family have agreed to develop a site in Makoi at a cost of $12 million to relocate the families and give them blocks of land which squatters would be entitled to have under their own name under a 99-year lease. He highlighted that they have been working with the iTaukei Land Trust Board and are happy to announce that the area in Makoi would have proper water, electricity, roads and garbage collection as part of the development.
He noted the Bhindi family would also contribute $1,000 towards each of the families for the relocation costs itself.
Once the engineering plan is complete, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said works would actually start. They are looking at nine to 12 months then relocation can actually commence.
He thanked the Bhindi family, and said what they have done has set new standards of not just the proposed commercial and industrial developments that would take place in Vatuwaqa but also in respect of how they have been very community driven.
He noted that the development of the land would be very beneficial to the landscape of Suva and also the economy.
About the project
■The project will entail subdividing 25 acres of land in Makoi into 300 lots that will have all the necessary infrastructure for resettlement and development.
■The Bhindi Family has structured the development with individual lots which creates land leases and titles that will be given to the squatters free of charge.
■This monumental and significant announcement marks a new era for the squatters as they will obtain legal ownership of the land in Makoi.
■The development will also feature sealed roads and sewage systems, and even a greenbelt, allocated to the squatters for farming to support their livelihood.
K. Bhindi Brothers Limited director Vinod K. Bhindi said: “The Bhindi Family has confirmed that they will completely fund this project.
“This is the first initiative and resettlement project of its kind that attempts to improve the quality of life and living standards of the squatters.
“We have modest and humble beginnings. We are most definitely following in the philanthropic ways of Karsanji Bhindi, my late father.
“His charitable contributions throughout the years always remind me that the interests of the Fijian community should always be at the forefront.
“He would be proud of our development dedicated to his memory and especially our ability to give the squatters a fresh start and actual ownership for the first time,” Mr Bhindi said.
The Bhindi Family would like to thank the FijiFirst Government, particularly the Attorney-General Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.
They also want to thank the iTaukei Land Trust Board for working with the family to obtain the land in Makoi and all members of the various departments who have made this possible.
Hopefully, this project will be a catalyst for other businesses which should inspire them to do