Call to mordenise systems

THE Housing Authority needs to provide a time frame to people applying for homes, according to a member of Parliament.

While making a submission to the parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts on the 2016-2017 Audit Report on Statutory Authorities in Suva yesterday, Housing Authority CEO Robert Sen said the processing time for applications was a challenge.

Mr Sen said they were looking at the allocation policy and processing system, however, it was difficult to say how long an application would take to process because exercising due diligence took time.

In response, committee member and member of Parliament Vijendra Prakash said given the high demand for housing there was a need for the authority to modernise its processing system and provide customers a time frame for their applications.

“We heard from clients that it takes quite a long time. Gone are the days when we had a manual system, then we can justify that it does take time. As far as the current situation, we know that with modern technology it should not take quite long because while there is a customer demand, you should also be upgrading your system…,” Mr Prakash said.

“The concern here is that you are unable to indicate how long it will take. It should be at the shortest time, a client should be able to get an answer.”

According to Mr Sen, in 2016 the authority approved 781 applications with the total amount of $32.5m while in 2017, 576 applications were approved with the total amount of $24.6m. In 2016, the authority acquired a total of 1334 lots (Davuilevu – 577 lots, 132 acres; Veikoba – 477 lots, 100 acres; Tulalevu – 180 lots, 70 acres; Covata – 100 lots, 15 acres), he added.