It was a teary affair when Government, through the Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment, handed out lease documents to residents of Vatoa Squatter Settlement at Narere today.
An emotional Mohammed Yakub, who has lived at Vatoa for 20 years, was just happy to be rid of the fear of eviction.
“For a squatter getting evicted is an everyday fear,” he said.
“We moved here, built a house and now Government has done up good roads and lighting and we are just thankful to the Government, the lands department – they have done a lot for us,” he said.
The lease documents assured 29 residents that received the lease documents, security of tenure and an open door to other economic opportunities that would effectively help lift their lives out of poverty.
The lease handover also marked the official launch of the Vatoa Squatter Upgrading Subdivision.
Minister Colonel Samuela Saumatua commented that the project afforded residents with the basic right to shelter.
“It has achieved Pillars 6 & 8 of the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress [People Charter] and the Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development [ROADMAP] and the target in the Ministry’s Annual Corporate Plan [2011],” he said.
“It also contributes to Fiji’s international commitment towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.”
The upgrading project commenced on September 16, 2002.
Quality Development Consultancy Surveying & Engineering Consultants and Templetec [Fiji] Limited carried out the upgrading works as the civil works contractor.
The project involved:
- 150 fully serviced lots with on site sewerage, water, electricity, telephone, sealed road and fire hydrants
“The completion of the project has provided the tenants a window of opportunity for security of tenure and improves the resident’s well beings [social/cultural, economic, environmental and political],” Colonel Saumatua said.
Happy resident of Vatoa receives her lease document from Col. Saumatua.
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