2 Nov 2015

Fiji squatters have land regularised by government

4:12 pm on 2 November 2015

40 squatters from a settlement in Fiji have been given approval notices by the government to lease the land they occupy.

The notices, which legalise their status as land occupants, were issued by the Prime Minister on Friday to squatters from Field 40, Lautoka.

Frank Bainimarama said an additional 104 approval notices would be handed out to Field 40's remaining squatters over the next few months.

Mr Bainimarama says the government will also redevelop Field 40 to provide amenities such as piped water, proper sewerage and power.

"When you have these approval notices to lease, you cannot be evicted. For the next 99 years, the law says that you are entitled to the lots you have been allocated. Land that you live on."

Mr Bainimarama says Field 40 was the first of 50 settlements in the country that would be regularised by the Lands Department.