Landowners of Waidamudamu agree for works to continue

Landowners of Waidamudamu have now agreed for works to continue from this afternoon, after they had blocked off the road leading to the land which is being developed by the government for the resettlement of squatters yesterday.

This was confirmed to Fijivillage by the Roko Tui Naitasiri, Ifereimi Corerega after a meeting with the police, the I-Taukei Land Trust Board, the Waidamudamu landowners and the Naitasiri Provincial Council at Tailevu House to resolve this issue.

They have now opened Waidamudamu road at nine and a half miles in Nausori.

He says that the Naitasiri Provincial Council facilitated yesterday’s meeting with the landowners to open the road. 

Corerega says a few months ago the landowners had raised the issue on consultations to be done before any work is done on their land.

When asked if there were consultations done with the landowners in regards to the works, Corerega says there was some miscommunication.

Corerega says there were official discussions with the developers, Ministry of Local Government and the Provincial Council, but they had not met with the landowners which was already scheduled for yesterday.

He says works will commence today and in the next 10 days there will be another meeting for approval of the Waidamudamu Road to be transferred to the government.

The Waidamudamu landowners had earlier raised concerns that no prior consultation was held with them about the current development and that is why they erected the roadblock.

$5 million has been allocated by the Ministry of Local Government to fully develop housing lots at the Waidamudamu Informal Settlement Upgrading Project.

Minister, Parveen Bala had said during the launch of the project that the ministry had many meetings and discussions with the Waidamudamu Development Committee, as they had agreed for the construction of 266 residential lots with 99 years of lease.

A total of 1,330 people are expected to have access to fully serviced housing lots and the necessary amenities after the project.