Victims of Nabua fire do not have to pay any rent for the first 3 months

Minister for Housing Praveen Bala says that the victims of the Nabua fire on October 18th who are currently staying at the Public Rental Board flats do not have to pay any rent for the first three months to January next year.

This was after a victim from the Muslim League settlement fire, Sandip Kumar was given a notice by PRB to pay his rent.

Bala says the truth is that for the first three months they are not supposed to pay any money and they can stay there for free and under that arrangement they had sent the fire victims to PRB.  

He says all the families staying in the informal settlement at the Muslim League land in Nabua, including the fire victims, will be relocated to another piece of land, however, this will not happen overnight.

Bala states that the 10 acres of land given to them by the Fiji Muslim League has to be sub-divided before moving the people there.

He adds that if the relocation takes more than six months then the fire victims can remain with PRB with partly subsidized rent.          

Bala has given a directive to PRB that if the fire victims have been given any invoices or notices to pay rent then PRB is to take it back.

However, PRB Acting General Manager Pat Veu says they are still trying to sort out this issue with the Ministry because according to his understanding it states subsidized rent and not free accommodation for 3 months.