A lot has changed in informal settlements in the country and we are thankful to the Government for rendering their support in this which is reflected in this budget.
This was the comment from Ana Ciriyawa, a resident at one of Namara Settlement in Labasa, while giving her views on the 2019/2020 National Budget.
“We moved here in 2001, and when we came there was no water and no electricity supply. It wasn’t until a few years later that we got water,” the 26-year-old said.
“I can vividly remember returning from school in 2008 and being able to switch on the lights in my room, giving me access to study any hour of the night. It was on that day that we finally had to do away with kerosene lamps.”
“Though I haven’t been living here for the past few years, coming in and out because of studies and work – I can honestly say that there has been a lot of improvement.”
“The Government’s commitment to improving living standards in these settlements around the country is commendable.”
One of her neighbours, Ashneel Prasad who has been living at the settlement since 1997, shared similar settlements saying a lot has been done to better their standard of living.
Yet another resident of the same settlement, 23-year-old Laisiasa Rokocibi said what stood out for him was the first home owners grant by the Government especially for family with a low income.
“This is really good for young people because it would increase our chances of owning our own homes.”
The Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, while announcing the budget, said $300,000 was allocated to exploring nature-based solutions to development through the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments, a programme which works at the intersection of health, environment, water and sanitation to build the resilience of informal settlements.
“It is the constitutional right of every Fijian to be provided accessible and adequate housing,” the A-G said.