Families dismantle homes
Plea for urgent government support
MORE than 10 families residing at the Vunivaivai settlement in Laqere, Nasinu, have dismantled their homes after receiving an order by the High Court in Suva to vacate by January 18.
Gopal Dhajan, a taxidriver, has lived in the settlement for the past 30 years with his wife and three children.
According to Mr Dhajan, the land belongs to Nasinu Land Purchase and Housing Cooperative Ltd and residents were given a notice on December 18 last year to vacate in one month or face their homes being dismantled by the authorities.
“We are pulling apart my house because of the High Court ruling, the last date (to vacate) was on the 18th of this month,” the 42-year-old said.
“It was really hard for us – one month to look for a place and go.
“This is the second day I am dismantling my house. I got too many belongings, it took me two weeks to remove them using my taxi.
“With a little bit of money, I hired a carrier to take the rest of my things – now I have to start from scratch again.”
Mr Dhajan said he was worried about how he would be able to pay for his children’s school items.
“I am renting the taxi I drive, so I must pay for the car weekly, look for a house, look after my family and school is near.
“If the court would have given us more time, like six months, then we could have done something slowly, but one month! It’s been really hard for us.”
Mr Dhajan and his family live below the home of a family member in a temporary makeshift home, closed off with a tarpaulin.
He requests the Government to help him and 14 other residents find vacant land so they can build their homes.
Another resident, 64-year-old Mosese Goneca said people had voted for this government, however, he claims if this was the attitude of leaders in times of great difficulty, then it was no use casting their votes.
Questions sent to Lands Minister Filimoni Vosarogo remained unanswered when this edition went to press.
We are pulling apart my house because of the High Court ruling, the last date (to vacate) was on the 18th of this month, which was yesterday (Thursday)
– Gopal Dhajan