Residents of Navutu in Lautoka are pleading with Government to formalise their settlement.
During a talanoa session with Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management Sakiasi Ditoka recently, Navutu resident Jone Ralase said their request had been handed previous authorities but they have yet to receive a response.
He said this request was also given to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during one of his campaign meetings at the village last year.
“Our main concern is about the location that we are currently living in right now,” he said.
“For many years we have had a lot questions about the lease on this land and how we can get this lease.
“We have been living here for many years but we have not been able to get a lease.
“We were told to form committees on this issue and we have all of that but nothing has been given to us.
“We want to formalise our lease and live here permanently.
“For years, people have come and gone and they have not been able to do this. That is our main concern and something that we have been requesting government to help us with for a very long time.”
He said the first residents to live in Navutu moved to State-owned land in the 1970s.
“Since then we have been trying to get formal leases.
“This is one of our biggest concerns because a lot of us have lived here for more than 30 years.”
In response, Mr Ditoka said he would need to liaise with the Minister for Lands and the Commissioner Western’s office to find out the progress on the request made by the residents.
He said it would need a more in-depth discussion between all relevant agencies before any decisions could be made.
