More than 40 families of Veiraisi settlement in Nadera, Nasinu, have raised their concerns over what they refer to as their “inhumane” eviction from the only land they call home.
Salacieli Molidegei, 63, who was born and raised in Veiraisi, said it was a sad day for all the residents because they had nowhere to go.
She claimed the families who first settled there had approached landowners.
“However, as the years went by, it seems the owners changed too, but none of them ever tried to remove us from this place.
“Not until now where the new owners are not providing land for us to resettle, or money to transport our household belongings and house material.
“They’re telling us to move but move where?
“Some of us have lived here all our lives and our source of income is the sea.
“Where do they expect us to move?”
Marama Vakatalai, who for more than 10 years had been a resident in the area, couldn’t hold back her tears as she watched contractors dismantle her home.
“Two notices were given this year, informing us that we only had one week to take down our houses and vacate this land,” Ms Vakatalai said.
“The last notice was given about two weeks or so ago, and this morning I got a shock when they showed up at my house telling me that they will start dismantling mine first.
“My husband had just gone to Labasa and my son is at work and I am the only one at home.
“I had asked them to wait for my husband to come back because he had made a verbal agreement with the landowner for us to stay here until we are able to secure another place to build our house.”
Another resident Tevita Brown said families had no idea where they would sleep last night.
He said they were not sure which government authority they should approach for assistance.
