The plight of residents at Sakoca Stage 2 settlement, Tamavua, have been raised by me, as the area’s District Advisory Councillor and community leader, to many forums.
This includes the Ministry of Housing.
To date, no positive responses, nor any action(s) have taken place.
Residents have voiced concerns to me verbally or by email, to the Ministry of Housing, or staff members of the developers. Yet, no assistance have been forthcoming.
The land development in question is located at Lakha Singh Rd, Tacirua East Sakoca Settlement, Tamavua.
The development works started on the eve of the last election in November 2022.
During that time, residents had no idea who the contractors, designers, and engineers of this project were.
To date, we now know the name of the developer while other information are vague on the information board. There is no site office to refer our queries to.
The gruesome outlook of the works by the contractor are as follows:
1. The roads in the area are swampy when it rains;
2. Garbage bins for residents to use have been misplaced and later taken away;
3. Water mains have been broken;
4. Road construction materials have been unloaded on the road;
5. Private driveways have been blocked;
6. Open sewer chambers are posing health risks to people and pets;
7. No clear signs at drainage sites;
8. Proper culverts not installed;
9. Preliminary pegs removed;
10. Religious structures damaged;
11. Without any warning, fences and other things in a residential compound are destroyed; and
12. Poor and rogue works have caused substantial damage to the environment.
I suggest that local authorities and the media, at its earliest, should come and inspect the area and the works done to understand the concerns of residents.
Other remedies that I wish to seek for and on behalf of the concerned residents are risk mitigation and immediate action to repair the damage caused and to call on the rogue developer to account for its actions.
I write these issues of grave concern needing urgent attention by the parties concerned.
Feedback: letters@fijisun.com.fj