200 Lots for Sakoca in Two Years
The total cost of works is in excess of $5million.
More than 200 subdivision lots with 99 year leases will be awarded to residents of Sakoca in two years time. This follows the commissioning of civil works by the Attorney-General and Minister for Housing Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on Friday.
The total cost of works is in excess of $5million. The Ministry of Housing and Community Development acquired the development lease for Sakoca through the iTaukei Land Trust Board from the Mataqali Nawavatu in 2017.
Surveys and preparatory works were carried out in 2019 and the contract tender was recently awarded to Viti Vanua Holdings Pte Limited. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum urged residents to cooperate with developers even though tensions were high. Previously on two occasions residents had paid thousands of dollars to developers who did not deliver civil works as promised.
“Government has stepped in and government will carry out the subdivisions at its own cost. This was announced in the budget,” he said, adding that about 42 sites were identified for subdividing around Fiji.
He advised residents to value the land that they have and to take advantage of the various housing initiatives made available by government. Residents were also told that government cannot be held accountable for what past governments did not do.
“If you don’t trust us that’s your choice but this will go ahead. I cannot fix what happened in the past, we can only offer solutions moving into the future.”
Elections
During the talanoa session a resident requested for a police post to be built in Sakoca. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum responded saying he could not make any promises because it is election time.
“If I say yes to you they will say I am trying to buy your vote. I can’t make any new promises, this (subdivision) was already budgeted for that’s why we’re here,” he said.
“If we decide to do this overnight and award the tender then that’s not right. Those kinds of things can wait until after election. Whoever you choose to form the government, you can talk to them. Hopefully you talk to the right people. “Please don’t think that election is around the corner that we are doing this. Please don’t think like that.”