Minister Clarifies Development Lease Query
“The landowner was very kind, he allowed you to live there so that was your own personnel arrangement, but that does not give you a 99-year lease title,” she said.
Tuesday 15 December 2020 | 16:49
Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development, Premila Kumar.
The Government cannot step in to develop a certain area without a development lease or consent.
The Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development, Premila Kumar, stressed this a during an Informal Settlement draft lot allocation policy meeting at the Lovu Sangam hall in Lautoka on Saturday.
“Out of the 250 informal settlements, Government acquired development lease for only 40. It’s only when we acquire the development lease, then the Government can start developing that area because the Government cannot move into a land that is owned by the landowners, that comes under TLTB.”
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She said those residing in a portion of land for a number of years due to an arrangement with the landowners did not qualify for the 99 year lease title.
“The landowner was very kind, he allowed you to live there so that was your own personnel arrangement, but that does not give you a 99-year lease title,” she said.
“Without the consent, Government can do nothing and again, 60 per cent of the Mataqali must agree, they must all sign off, then only the development lease is given to us.”
She said the public was fortunate now with the various assistance schemes devised by the Government.
