Cheaper and decent homes by 2020

Fiji's  Ministry for Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment in its bid to provide affordable and decent homes to citizens of the country has embarked on campaigns to raise more awareness.

And the ministry has chosen ‘the mother of all festivals’, Hibiscus as the perfect opportunity to organise a National Housing Expo this year again.

 “It is indeed true that housing is everyone’s business, yours and mine,” Colonel Samuela Saumatua, Minister of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment said.

Housing Authority of Fiji has been immensely involved in this Expo giving their customers a wider range to choose from. “The Housing Authority will also be displaying the Waila city housing models and will be answering questions from festival goers,” added Housing Authority spokesperson, Dwain Qalovaki.

Colonel Saumatua also stressed on the theme for this years expo, “Provisions of affordable and decent homes for all communities by 2020”.

“The challenge ranges from the attempts to manage housing for those families stricken by poverty, to catering for those with very low income to Housing Authority’s efforts to provide homes for middle income level,” Colonel Samuela Saumatua said.

According to Colonel Saumatua, the current government views housing as a human right and it addresses the strategic priority goals under the vision of the Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress for “a better Fiji for all” and the “Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development 2009-2014”

“The Charter and the Roadmap also directly connect with Fiji’s international commitments towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” Colonel Saumatua added.

The National Housing Expo is concurrently with the Hibiscus Festival from the 18th to 25th August at Albert Park.

By Indrani Krishna