THE Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources will be issuing residents of Cuvu, Sigatoka, their 99-year leases before the end of the year, says line Minister Filimoni Vosarogo.
Mr Vosarogo was responding to an oral question posed by Independent Opposition MP Parveen Bala in Parliament on May 2.
Mr Bala said the announcement was made on March 12, 2024, by the government. Mr Vosarogo told Parliament that Government had obtained clearance from the Office of the Solicitor General on the contents of the offer letter.
“If the residents are okay with the offer and the conditions, then we’re surely ready to provide them with 99-year leases,” he said.
“It will definitely be before the end of the year.”
Mr Bala also posed a supplementary question regarding the payment method residents would use and the exact amount of money they would have to pay.
“I’m sure with the experience that Honourable Bala has in dealing with residents, being a former mayor of Ba and former administrator of Lautoka City, they would understand pretty well what leases will contain,” Mr Vosarogo said.
“Surely, they would contain a premium, you’d understand that, and they would also contain rentals which are going to be required to be paid for yearly.”
Mr Vosarogo said he would not be able to disclose the exact amount residents would have to pay.
“We’re still sorting out some of the costs of developments that were spent by the Ministry of Housing, but I’m sure that is something that the residents will be able to live with. They’ve been crying for their own lease for much longer than we’ve existed inside this house, and so I think 2025 would be a great year for them.”
Mr Vosarogo said the residents would be able to have security for tenure and a long-term lease to enjoy.
