A family of seven, including a three-week-old baby, had to spend three nights at a bus stop on the Queens Highway, in Navo, Nadi.

Jone Rabuli, 39, his wife, four children and a 74-year-old woman were forcefully evicted from the house they were living in by the landlord on Monday.

Since then, they have gathered all their stuff and are sheltering at a bus shelter, which is about 100 metres from their house.

Mr Rabuli claims that they had been living in the house since last year, and he used to work for the landlord, Jerry Goundar.

He claimed the amount the landlord was paying him was not enough to pay for the bills and other needs. He later quit working for the landlord and found a job elsewhere.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he went back to the landlord with a mutual agreement to deduct $100 from his pay for the rent.

“We were paying $350 rent monthly,” he said.

He also claimed that the landlord had tried to evict them on numerous occasions.

Mr Goundar said Mr Rabuli was staying in the house on a temporary basis and the structure was not safe for his family. He also wanted to do some repairs on the house.

Mr Goundar also claimed that his caretaker had told him that Mr Rabuli had threatened him via messages.

However, Mr Rabuli has denied those claims.

“We have no place to stay or food to feed our children,” Mr Rabuli said.

Edited by Selita Bolanavanua

Feedback: waisean@fijisun.com.fj

• To assist the family, contact Jone Rabuli on 8723731