THE non-compliance of squatters with development, health and building regulations often lead to a decrease in land value, says iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) chief executive officer Solomoni Nata.
He said squatting was now a method for many people to occupy native land and being poor was no longer the determining factor.
Mr Nata advised squatters that living on a land without a lease agreement would always mean insecurity and uncertainty.
He refuted claims made regarding his institution’s inactiveness in protecting landowners’ interests and addressing the issue of informal settlements within Fiji’s urban areas.
He said squatting was now a method for many people to occupy native land and being poor was no longer the determining factor.
“Contrary to comments by certain elements in the media, the iTaukei Land Trust Board is committed to protecting landowners’ interests and is actively addressing the issue of informal settlements across urban areas in Fiji,” Mr Nata said in a statement.
“TLTB’s many attempts over the years to curb squatters have been hampered by the political agenda of past government administrations.
“This is not a challenge unique to Fiji but one faced by many developing countries. Squatters, especially in peri urban areas, have been part of our socio-economic landscape since colonial times, propagated by the goodwill of the landowners; unfortunately, this has remained so.”
Mr Nata said that formalising squatters was an enormous exercise with heavy capital injections.
He said together with the Ministry of Housing and Community Development, they’ve identified 42 informal settlements for development and formalisation.
“Of these 42 sites, five per cent (two sites – Ledrusasa Subdivision in Nadi and Waidamudamu in the Central division) have been completed with individual leases issued to the sitting tenants, and 19 per cent (seven sites) have expired but not renewed as requested by the respective landowning units.
“The remaining 76 per cent are currently work in progress.
“TLTB has recently completed the formalisation of Waidamudamu settlement near Koronivia. The completion of this project has provided secured residential tenure to 274 residents and consecutively boosted the income stream for the landowners of Navuso Village.”
Mr Nata said developing informal settlements ensures that landowners have a legitimate income, and financial sustainability in the long run.
Mr Nata advised squatters that living on a land without a lease agreement will “remains perpetually insecure and uncertain”.
“For the seven sites that have not been renewed, this indicates that for any informal settlement within iTaukei land, there is always the risk of landowners reclaiming their lands for proper development or for their own use, resulting in informal tenants losing their homes and businesses.
“They must expect that there will come a time in the future when they need to formalize their occupation or asked or forced to move for formal development, either for residential or other purposes.”
