Following the high court decisions a fortnight ago, the Minister for Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment Col. S. A Saumatua and the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Mr Netani Sukanaivalu have been engaged in a joint exercise to consider options for the immediate relocation of the squatters as required by law.
Col. Saumatua said that this was a key deliverable for Government in accordance with the People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress and the Ministry's annual corporate plan.
It was subsequently decided to offer the relocation site Sasawira in Nasinu, Nine Miles about a kilometer inland off the main Kings road.
The Local Government ministry had developed the site with basic infrastructure and utility service.
The public transport service is also available and readily accessible in the area.
There are about 13 houses compromising of about 20 families in the settlement with a total settlement population of about 50 people.
Similar options for relocation were offered by the Ministry back in 2006 to the squatters when they faced eviction but were not acceptable to them.
All the families have now been offered a secure land lot at the relocation site and were shown the sites on Thursday (15/7/10) by the Ministry and Housing authority staff and accompanied by police.
The leaseholder of the property where the squatters were located is also expected to provide transportation for the relocation.
This initiative by the Ministry was implemented on compassionate, humanitarian grounds to ensure that the households have an alternative rather than feeling compelled to taking extreme steps like squatting elsewhere or living on the streets.
The wellbeing of the children of the settlement were also of particular concern to the Ministry.
The relocation is only a temporary short term solution and within three to four years when affordable low cost housing land and housing opportunities and options become available, these squatters will be given priority to resettle permanently or to choose another available option.
To date nine households have accepted the offer to relocate to Sasawira however, none have confirmed a date for relocation or have followed up with the offer. One household has relocated to land owned by the Kalabu landowners.
The Ministry and housing authority remain ready to assist if required.
The Minister emphasized in subsequent discussions with stakeholders that it was important that we as the Government fulfill our obligation under the Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress with regards to poverty and housing.
He also stated that these efforts were important indicators in Fiji’s achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
“Fiji is serious in honoring universal values obligations,” he said.