Only 45 percent of Fijians reside in villages, while 55 percent live in urban areas, according to Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya. During the inaugural ministerial forum on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Lami, she highlighted that over 150,000 individuals are living in informal settlements, creating significant challenges for the government.
Tabuya noted that there are five informal settlements in Lami, including Qauia, which is the largest in Fiji. The Qauia settlement houses about 5,000 residents who continue to struggle with poverty and face ongoing issues with infrastructure and electricity.
She pointed out that the crime rate, particularly regarding drug-related offenses, is highest in these informal and squatter settlements, with poverty exacerbating the situation.
“What are we going to do about our people there who are displaced?” she asked. She emphasized that, at present, these communities lack a security plan and security of tenure, which complicates their daily lives.
Tabuya remarked that women in these informal settlements are bearing the brunt of social issues while attempting to maintain stability within their families. She also expressed concern about the role of traditional leaders and called on them to extend their leadership to those living in informal squatter settlements.
“I challenge the leaders as well. Your leadership should be able to reach out to these informal squatter settlements as well. We’re still organized like a village,” she stated, pointing out the existing traditional structures among native landholders in these areas.