PRB tenants face eviction push

Tenants living at the Public Rental Board flats in Mead Road, Nabua, Suva, have not being paying rent from last year, as Government worries over old structures and alleged criminal activities remain priority.

The PRB directors gave tenants until last December year to vacate.

PRB general manager Timoci Naleba said residents had made a request to be given until February this year.

“Since December, we have stopped them from paying rent to us. There is no agreement between us right now. We’ve asked them to leave the place. They've been living for free in those buildings, which are declared unsafe,” he said.

Mr Naleba re-emphasied the worry was the state of the building, which has not undergone any renovation since it was built more than five decades ago.

CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES

In an interview with this masthead, Mr Naleba said the problem worsened with alleged criminal activities in the area that had fuelled instability, leading to arrests, in the recent past.

“For the Mead Road estate, there have been cases of drug consumption and possession. And these remain a challenge for us,” he said.

Minister for Housing Maciu Nalumisa said they were working closely with the Ministry of Policing

BUILDING STATE

Old Structures, Alleged Mead Road Flats Poses Worry stamp out illegal activities, including drug use, because many refuse to vacate the structurally condemned buildings.

"We will have meetings with the ministry and Minister of Policing and some of the ways that we can work together with the police, trying to curb and even address some of the illegal activities that are happening around Mead Road," Mr Nalumisa said.

"There is a task force that is now working on what else can be done."

Mr Nalumisa said the drug raids at the PRB flats, which drew public attention after a widely circulated video this week showed armed soldiers and Police officers conducting a joint operation in the early hours of Monday, were one of the key reasons the Government wanted the remaining tenants relocated urgently.

He said the structures would be demolished once all residents had vacated the buildings, and that no one would be left behind in the relocation process.

“Once they are demolished, we will go out to seek funding to repay. We wouldn’t like that place redundant for a very long time, like the Raiwaqa flats. We want to demolish and build straight away.”

DOUBLE DIPPING

There are seven blocks with 144 families occupying the buildings.

Mr Naleba said the purpose of these public rental flats were to help families save money and relocate.

“These estates are centrally located, near shops, markets and main roads,” he said.

“It minimises the expenses for tenants. They are just paying about half of the cost of the flat and half is being taken care of by the

Government. After six years they should be able to at least have deposit for a property.

“They prioritise buying a car, buying other things apart from having a portion of the income invested in a property or in an investment fund to assist them with investing in a home.

“For me it's unfair because of the many assistance that has been given to them. They are double dipping; they're getting subsidy from here and at the same time they're geting another assistance from the Government.”

TENANCY AGREEMENT

The old tenancy agreement is for three years, subject to renewal upon completion of tenancy agreement assessment.

Mr Naleba said the financial capacity of tenants was the most important factor before any agreement was signed.

“The total salary of those working in the family must be $30,000 and below.”

Mr Naleba said a thorough investigation is conducted every six months to determine the income of tenants.

HOUSING ASSISTANCE

Mr Naleba confirmed that about 10 tenants from the PRB flats in Mead Road have approached the board to request housing assistance.

He said they have requested $200,000 from the ministry to assist families.

“So far, we have used internal funding of about $20,000 allocated for something else to help these families,” Mr Naleba said.

“Some of the 10 families are housed in our current PRB flats, and some we have assisted them with the purchasing of housing materials for their homes because they have bought properties. The money is given directly to the hardware companies.”

Despite notices issued to residents to vacate the blocks, the majority still refuse.

CHANGING MINDSET

PRB believes in engaging stakeholders to improve the communities by changing the physical environment.

“Most of our young people in PRB flats have been in and out of prison simply because of the lack of support from us, from all stakeholders,” Mr Naleba said.

“We don’t want them to come back from those places to another one. That’s why we’ve changed the way we’ve built our buildings, by trying to improve the surroundings.”

Mr Naleba said PRB engaged young people in its construction sites, with capacity building also provided.

“If you don’t engage them in other activities, they will continue to fall back to criminal and illegal activities because it’s quick cash, quick satisfaction,” he said.

Mr Naleba indicated that traditional apology could also be considered given the events that unfolded over the past month.

A committee has yet to be set up by the PRB and Police to look into matters involving the residents of Mead Road PRB flats.

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