Informal Settlers Forced Contractor to Quit Development Contract: Minister
The Ministry of Housing and Community Development hopes to secure funding in the next financial year to recommence development of the Caubati informal settlement in Nasinu. Minister for Housing Premila Kumar said this was discussed with residents during a visit to Mama’s Place in Caubati by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Tuesday night.
Residents raised issues regarding the development, and sought clarification as to why the Government discontinued works after the contractor left.
Ms Kumar explained that the contractor had started work on the $1.4 million project in 2015, one year after the tender was awarded.
“When the contractor started the work it was going very smoothly then the residents started causing problems by obstructing the contractor’s work. They didn’t want him to cut the road this way, or remove things or do the drain, fencing but he was following the scheme plan and structural drawing,” Ms Kumar said.
She said in the process around 10 to 12 families had to be relocated because they too were also creating problems.
“Some of them had built their houses where the road was marked. Three to four attempts were made to rectify the problem, but the contractor became frustrated.” Ms Kumar said they went back in 2019 to re-negotiate and see how they could move forward with the project.
When the ministry returned to the settlement, she said they saw that a lot of houses were not developed and people were sneaking in after hearing that the area was under development in the hopes of getting free or cheap land.
Residents agreed that they did not cooperate with the contractor which led him to leave and that there were people who owned houses elsewhere but had built properties in the settlement for rental purposes.
“It’s all about land grabbing and greediness. Last night (Tuesday) was a good opportunity to discuss some issues faced by the residents and I have told them our plans. Rather than just developing Stage 1 we are developing the whole of Caubati.”