300 families in the Fiji Muslim League squatter settlement in Nabua, Suva, have been served eviction notices with the demand that they vacate their homes by 28 December 2024.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has assured affected residents that plans for their relocation are being expedited.
Rabuka confirmed that the eviction notices, issued by the Fiji Muslim League, are in accordance with the law, as the land rightfully belongs to the League. “Government will just have to be ready to relocate them,” Mr Rabuka stated.
“I hope not too many people will be dislocated from native land, where the law will be applied.”
The Ministry of Housing and Community Development, led by Minister Maciu Nalumisa, is tasked with crafting a relocation plan. However, no definitive timeline for implementation has been provided.
For many residents, the short notice is overwhelming. Turaga ni koro (village headman) Karalo Naituki, who has lived in the settlement for 34 years, described the impending holiday season as tearful. He told The Fiji Times, “We have no place to move to. We’ll just stay here and see what happens.”
“We are worried because we don’t have money to dismantle and rebuild our homes.”
Asha, a resident of over 30 years, expressed frustration over the short notice of eviction, stating to told the Fiji Sun that more time should have been given for preparation. Anita Kumar, a 40-year resident, shared that the eviction notice has taken away their Christmas joy and appealed to the government through The Fiji Times for assistance in relocating to a safe place.
“I humbly request the Government to help us relocate to a safe place.”
As the families await a government decision on their relocation site, Minister for Lands, Filimoni Vosarogo, who is collaborating with the Housing Minister told fijivillage that this is not the first instance of eviction notices from the Muslim League.
Minister Nalumisa announced ongoing discussions with the Fiji Muslim League (FML) regarding relocation plans for Nabua squatter settlement residents. FML has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to identify relocation options and sites for the affected families.
In 2020, the Ministry of Housing warned homebuyers to be cautious about purchasing homes in squatter settlements, as illegal sales continue to occur.
According to the Fiji Sun, sellers were misleading buyers, claiming they will receive land titles once settlements are developed, but this is not guaranteed. Most homes in informal settlements are being sold for $5,000 to $20,000, often through social media. In some cases, transactions are made with no formal documentation, such as receipts.
The Ministry has stressed that only those who meet specific criteria, determined through socio-economic surveys, will receive titles when settlements are developed.
Recently, a social survey by the Housing Ministry revealed that while some residents of informal settlements genuinely face financial constraints, many are well-off and capable of affording proper housing but choose to remain in these areas.
Permanent Secretary Manasa Lesuma highlighted ongoing government initiatives, including a pilot project to relocate Veidogo settlement residents and a partnership with Habitat for Humanity for broader relocation efforts.
“We got four of those informal settlement’s in construction phase, while there is another 19 that are currently in planning phase.”
The survey also identified some residents manipulating the system, such as those owning properties elsewhere but living in informal settlements. The ministry plans to relocate deserving families while addressing legal constraints for others.
Rural-to-urban migration continues to contribute to congestion, with nearly 300 informal settlements across Fiji. Formalisation remains a core focus for Rabuka government, involving upgraded roads and utilities for subdivided lots.
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