Good news for 451 families residing in Ledrusasa in Nadi, Cuvu and Waidamudamu near Koronivia as they will be issued with a long-term tenure leases of 99 years after Cabinet approved the new Informal Settlement Upgrade Programme Lot Allocation Policy.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says this policy has taken into consideration the significant changes in informal settlements across the nation.
He says a few key areas that the policy addresses include the eligibility for lots, price of lots, government subsidy and restriction on the sale and transfer of allocated lots.
The Prime Minister adds the new policy will use the current market value of upgraded lots, taking into consideration the infrastructural capital works carried out, and this ensures adequate reflection of development costs that will determine the appropriate level of subsidy for the lot allocation price.
He also says the recommended subsidy under the new policy assists the lowest income earner ranges, but the subsidy decreases as the income range increases.
He adds the new policy places restrictions on the sale and transfer of lots by means of a caveat.
However, the Ministry of Housing may provide due consideration to genuine cases such as migration and will ensure that a refund of the total subsidy is made from the sale.
To be eligible for the new policy, the applicant must have resided in the settlement when the Ministry conducted the socio-economic survey; applicant must not have previously or currently owned any other property at the time of the lodging of their application; and be a Fiji Citizen above 18 years old.
Meanwhile, there is also good news for i-Taukei land owners as the cabinet has agreed to continue the provision of funding for government grant for i-Taukei land development initiative.
Rabuka says through this grant, resources are allocated to support land owners with complete land development packages including the clearing and leveling of the ground, subdivision of land, ensuring connectivity to all utility services and connection to paved roads which are climate resilient.
He says since 2015, 10 projects have been approved of which three have been completed and leases handed over to the respective land owners in 2022 while 7 are still in progress.
Rabuka has acknowledged the previous government for establishing this grant in 2015 to assist i-Taukei land owners in the development of their land, particularly meeting the cost of connecting utilities such water, electricity and roads on the proposed development areas.
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