Ministry upgrades five settlements

THE Ministry of Housing and Community Development has upgraded and formalised five informal settlements that has resulted in 451 households issued with land lease documents.

This information is available on the ministry’s website.

The report said 60 houses in Badrau settlement in Ba, 60 homes in Bangladesh settlement in Nakasi, 105 houses in Vatoa squatter settlement in Nasinu, 143 homes in Lakena Hill number 2 and 83 houses in Omkar have received leases.

The ministry also said squatter settlement developments were aligned with Fiji’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“The upgrading and formalisation of informal settlements support Fiji’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 of ‘Making Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive; Safe; Resilient and Sustainable’,” it said.

“This program also supports the Fijian Government’s vision of ‘Accessible and Adequate Housing for All’ as outlined in Fiji’s National Development Plan.

“The Fijian Government aims to increase affordable and quality housing to low to middle-income households, and Fijians living in informal settlements, and is keen to explore well-structured solutions to housing issues.”

THE Ministry of Housing and Community Development has 44 settlements under development lease.

The issuance of a development lease is the first phase of formalising towards the issuance of a land tenure of 99-year leases for fully serviced and subdivided lots within informal settlements.

In the Central Division, there are 14 informal settlements under development where 2724 households are involved, says a report on the ministry’s website.

The highest number of dwellings are at Qauia in Lami, which has 443 houses.

Nadonumai shows 376 houses and River Rd in Narere having 314 houses.

In the Western Division, there are 15 informal settlements under development with 2084 households.

The Tomuka squatter area in Lautoka has 496 houses and the Tauvegavega informal settlement has 366 houses, the highest in the Western Division.

The Ministry of Housing and Community Development has identified 14 informal settlements in the North, with a survey currently being carried out in 10 settlements to determine the number of households.

The Vunivau A squatter area has 453 houses while Vunivau B has 380 households.