Squatters on State land will be given ninety-nine year leases – a promise in the FijiFirst manifesto which he government is now working to deliver.

The Lands Minister, Mereseini Vuniwaqa says there are 64 squatter settlements and fifteen have been identified for development.

“To develop these squatter settlements to a level where they can actually get their own leases, 99 year leases that’s our intention. It’s a big project we’re already making strategies now plans on how we gonna tackle this from January 1st next year.”

Vuniwaqa says they can’t develop all squatters’ settlements at once and this has to be a progressive exercise.

The development will include the proper subdivision of land and access to utilities like water and electricity.

It’s not going to be easy and Vuniwaqa says they first have to see the condition of the squatter settlements and what developments have taken place on State land.

“They are all at different levels of developments, some of them have been done illegally, the sub-division of them so they are much easier to deal with others which has no development done at all….so we are looking forward to starting them off.”

There are also plans for squatters living on land administered by municipal councils and the iTaukei Land Trust Board.

Vuniwaqa says there will be wide ranging discussions on this issue.