PRB: Surge in housing demand
Naleba wary of squatter settlement expansion
PUBLIC Rental Board general manager Timoci Naleba has warned that the surge in iTaukei families relocating to urban areas will expand squatter settlements.
He said the demand for housing has also increased as a result of the iTaukei relocating to urban areas.
“Right now, we have more than 200 applicants on the waiting list,” Mr Naleba said.
“Because of this migration to the urban areas, we are working with iTaukei Affairs, especially to build facilities that might be able to answer some of the issues they have in terms of getting their children to come to schools in urban areas.
“We are looking at asking the Government to assist in having at least 36 flats in each province.
“If they could help in funding, we would maintain it.
“We could have a memorandum of understanding on how to operate that particular facility. It’s a need right now.”
Mr Naleba said there was an initiative by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs for urban iTaukei.
“I’m sure that they would be coming up with plans to be able to meet this demand for housing in urban areas.
“Almost every weekend, I get calls from people from the outer islands looking for flats.
“Why? Because their children are here and they are not.
“Children are not studying well because of the places that they have been traveling from and where they have been staying. They have been staying with their relatives. “The environment there would not be conducive for learning and studying.
“So, that’s what I’m sharing with the iTaukei Affairs as well, especially with the PS who is very eager to listen and to discuss these issues.
“The housing issue in Fiji is getting bigger and the demand is there.”
Because of this migration to the urban areas, we are working with iTaukei Affairs, especially to build facilities that might be able to answer some of the issues they have ...
– Timoci Naleba