I’m not aware if there was an agreement with Viria landowners – Usamate

Former Minister for Infrastructure and FijiFirst MP, Jone Usamate says he is not aware if a formal agreement was made with the landowners of Viria regarding the Viria Water Project, but he says they had widely conducted consultations with the landowners.

While responding to the statement made by the Minister for Public Works, Ro Filipe Tuisawau that the previous government did not include the needs of the landowners in the Viria Water Treatment Plant agreement, Usamate says it was a ridiculous statement made by the Minister as all he had to do is talk to his officials at the Water Authority of Fiji, Ministry of Agriculture, people in the local departments, and Commissioner’s Office who were part of the project.

When questioned if there was an agreement with the landowners, Usamate says there was a whole series of consultations that was undertaken and he was under the impression that things were ready to be completed.

He adds he does not know why there was a delay as everything was moving well.

The former Minister says people have to remember that WAF is an entity which is heavily subsidised by the Government and is not an organisation that earns a profit like Energy Fiji Limited.

Usamate says the issue he was aware of is the qoliqoli rights, and that has been compensated to the landowners.

He says other things that have come up recently would be outside the ambit of the normal settlement that they have done with the landowners.

When questioned on why there wasn’t any agreement done with the landowners, Usamate says agreements are only done with the contractors that are out in place.

Meanwhile, thousands of people living in the Lami, Suva and Nausori corridor will have to wait for another 4 to 5 months for consistent water supply as the Minister for Public Works and the Water Authority of Fiji have not agreed to some terms with the Vanua of Viria regarding the Viria Water Project.

Ro Filipe says the previous government did not include the needs of the landowners in the Viria Water Treatment Plant agreement.

He says he is liaising with the Attorney General’s Office, the Ministry for Lands and the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs on ongoing issues with the landowners.

He further says they have agreed to 90 percent of the issues that were brought up include areas where the youths can be employed, the roads and water connections.

The Minister says this is an expensive exercise and they will advise everyone when they reach an agreement.

Ro Filipe also says in the future, they will be including the needs of the landowners in any development agreement.

Ro Filipe says the issue regarding the Viria Project was moving forward from the conception stage, but it did not incorporate the major stakeholder which is the Vanua of Viria.

He says these are the 2 issues they have discussed and have a general agreement that this shall be done.

The Minister also confirms that once everything is sorted with the Viria Water Project, they will provide water to those affected in the urban and rural areas that have been without water since the colonial days, including the districts of Namara and Verata in Tailevu.