Fiji Muslim League (FML) has every right to develop land it owns in Nabua, Suva.
Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa said this to over 400 families facing eviction from the Nabua Muslim League settlement.
“This is something that has to be clear to all of us,” he said during a meeting with the residents.
“If you are an owner of the land, you have every right to develop that land.
“For those of us who have been living here, one of the biggest challenges is, if the owner of the land comes back and asks us to move, it will be a very challenging, a very difficult task for all of you.
“I understand this because you have been living here for quite a few years, or some of you, for quite some time.”
He said the Coalition Government was in talks with the Fiji Muslim League to address the eviction measures.
“The Coalition Government is a government that believes in consultation, believes in dialogue, and after meeting with the executives of the Fiji Muslim League today (yesterday), we have come to some form of understanding on what we can do, not only as a ministry but together with Fiji Muslim League in addressing the eviction measures here at the settlement.
“If you look at the background of this issue, it takes one back to 2015, and there have been a lot of consultations held with the residents here.
“Now, that the league is planning to push through their projects, and after lots of these consultations, and a lot of promises that have been shared earlier, even confirmed earlier by the previous administration, they (Fiji Muslim League) said they were waiting and it’s a high time now for them to take measures because they also want to continue the projects.”
Mr Nalumisa said the Government would work with the league to relocate residents.
“I asked them (Fiji Muslim League) to grant us time, so that we can gather information around here, do the survey to confirm, to determine those that are living here, as well as double households that we have here, the type of income that are earned, and also the housing income of the people that reside here.
“This information will assist the ministry, as well as the government in coming up with relocation plans.
“So that’s something that we have asked the League.
“I think they’re also going to have their meeting this Sunday.”
