Minister for Local Government, Premila Kumar says capital works at Sakoca Settlement in Tamavua will begin this year as part of their plans to formalise this informal settlement, however National Federation Party MP, Lenora Qereqeretabua says residents in Sakoca have not been provided with formal leases as earlier promised.
Qereqeretabua has questioned the Minister on the promises that were made before the elections.
Kumar says Qereqeretabua fails to understand the process takes time because they have to negotiate with the landowners and once they agree, then only they can develop the area.
She says prior to government intervention, two land developers were given development leases by the i-Taukei Land Trust Board to develop the land but unfortunately they failed to complete the subdivision and many Fijians lost thousands of dollars.
Kumar says she has been meeting the residents of Sakoca and discussing the project and has also been consulting them on several matters.
The Minister adds they are often not able to achieve the results quickly as they want to bring minimum disruption to the sitting tenants and even when the development goes ahead, they find many other issues within the settlement which is not in line with the scheme plan.
