Suva Squatters Cause Problems

The problem of squatters with no legal rights to their land seems to be getting worse around Suva. Recently there have been at least two cases of groups of squatters resisting attempts by development companies to move them.

Squatters on one Suva sub-division off Mead Road, Tamavua, dug their toes in, refusing to move despite threats of court action. Their shacks are in the way of a $200,000 project, on land owned by the New Zealand company, Unit Sub-divisions Develop ment Ltd. The company bought the land from a Suva lawyer, Mr. Diven dra Pathik—reportedly for $135,000.

A spokesman for the owners claimed

the squatters had ignored written notices to quit and refused offers of financial assistance and temporary alternative land.

“You find us some land where we can move a simple home and we will go gladly,” said 70-year-old Mrs.

Sakai Dip. The others agreed that there was nowhere to go.

However, later in the month, it ap peared all but a few of the 30 squat ters had accepted $l5O compensation from the company. The company said they would be re-settled on land fur ther down Mead Road. The threat of legal action still stood for the rest.

Fiji’s Minister of Social Service, Jonate Mavoa, was drawn into an

other squatters’ rumpus in late Janu ary. He addressed a gathering of squatters on land off the Kings Road at Samabula, who had been served eviction orders by the owners, the Fiji Muslim League.

He told the squatters to have patience while their re-settlement problem was examined. More than 123 families occupied about 60 acres of what was formerly the Sdhan- Jagroop Estate. Some of them had lived there for more than 25 years.

Mr. Mavoa said the government intended to find enough land to build 750 homes a year, but on Suva Penin sula there was only about 200 acres of Crown land that could be de veloped for low-cost housing.