First Home Grant is only for people who have their name on the title, it does not cover villagers with vakavanua or tenancy at will arrangements - Kumar

Minister for Housing, Premila Kumar says the government’s First Home Ownership Grant is only for people who have their name on the title and the program does not cover villagers if they have vakavanua or tenancy at will arrangements.

Kumar says this is the stand of the ministry as the land ownership has to be clear after SODELPA MP, Lynda Tabuya raised the question on whether iTaukei villagers qualify for the First Home Ownership Grant.

However Tabuya claims that the Attorney General had said last year that villagers can apply for the grant if they have the iTaukei Land lease title through the landowning unit.

Kumar says they have some other programs for rural and maritime areas as there needs to be a clear title for this particular program.

We have sent questions for clarification from Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. Meanwhile Kumar adds that 2,978 Fijian families have been assisted since the inception of the First Home Ownership Program in 2014 where more than $28.6 million has been paid.

She says that as highlighted by the Minister for Economy during the Virtual Budget Consultation, the program will continue in the next financial year.

People who earn $50,000 or less and are building their first home are eligible for a grant of $30,000. They will get $15,000 if they buy their first home.

People earning above $50,000 annually can be granted $20,000 to build their first home or $5,000 to buy their first home.