Parliament

Squatter resettlement to continue: Kumar

November 19, 2019 12:50 pm

People desperate for homes are being taken advantage of - having to pay exorbitant amounts to rent in squatter settlements.

People desperate for homes are being taken advantage of – having to pay exorbitant amounts to rent in squatter settlements.

Housing Minister Premila Kumar has told Parliament that 450 families from five settlements have their own homes already.

“There are unscrupulous slumlords who charge excessive rents and opportunists who try to take advantage of the government’s programme to grab land from those in genuine need.  Stronger policy and regulatory framework will address this.”

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Work is progressing on nine other squatter settlements to re-house over 1,200 families.

Kumar says families will have their own leases and not be at the mercy of shady landlords.

The Ministry has secured development leases from the iTaukei Land Trust Board for the relocation programme.