Govt taking responsible step through amendment, says PM
THE Government has been providing opportunities for Fijians to not only own their own homes through its First Home Purchase Programme but to also regularise informal tenants who reside on certain land.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said this was the reason the Government had brought through the amendment to the State Land Act, as it saw a need to reform the archaic legislation that hindered socioeconomic development and facilitate support measures for those affected.
In making his contribution to the amendment in Parliament last week, Prime Minister Bainimarama said if the Government was irresponsible, it could have just allowed tenants to settle in informal settlements and to have an insecure future but “as everyone knows, that is not my Government”.
“We do things the right way by ensuring that Fijians not only have homes and formal leases, but can also access financial systems and proper services, such as electricity, clean water, footpaths and roads.”
The Head of Government said the amendment will allow Fijians who are currently residing on State land and have obtained informal approval from the lawfully registered lessee to formalise these arrangements.
He highlighted that in many cases, the initial registered lessee cannot be located or simply does not have the capacity to be able to subdivide the land which was sold without consent many years prior.
Prime Minister Bainimarama added the Government also wants to ensure that properties are built to quality standard since improper leasing creates a lot of uncertainty for occupants which was then reflected in the types of houses they built.
He said these structures are more often than not unable to withstand the ferocity of national disasters and the best approach for any disaster is to be prepared by building resilient infrastructure.
“In essence, this Bill ensures the very important and fundamental right of every Fijian. According to Section 35 of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, Government must take reasonable measures within its available resource to achieve the progressive realisation of the right of every person to access adequate housing and sanitation,” Prime Minister Bainimarama said.
The amendment was passed in Parliament.