36 families receive offer letters from PM to reside at Lagilagi Housing

36 families, who used to reside at an informal settlement at Jittu Estate, now have a place to call home after they received their occupancy offer letters from Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to reside at the Lagilagi Housing in Suva.

While officiating at the handover, Rabuka says this event signifies the completion of the much-needed homes initially designed for rental purposes for the 36 families who currently reside at the Jittu Estate.

He says this project was initiated more than a decade ago by the Peoples Community Network Charitable Trust, and it was to provide low-cost housing for families that were currently living in Jittu.

Rabuka says the Cabinet endorsed in January 2024 the Public Rental Board’s involvement in completing the 36 unfinished units and overseeing the management of the Lagilagi Housing projects.

He adds the decision to involve PRB was made after recognising the urgent need for a dedicated body to ensure the completion of these remaining units and their allocation.

The Prime Minister says the transfer of the project from the Peoples Community Network to the PRB signified a crucial shift in the management of this long-stalled initiative.

He says the Government’s focus was clear as it was to ensure that this charter unit was completed by the end of 2024, providing homes for families in need.

Rabuka says the Government, through the Ministry of Housing, recently conducted a survey at the northern end of Jittu Estate, and they found in that survey that a total of 1,498 people needed to be housed.

He adds those include 36 families that will be offered starting units so they can eventually called home.

Rabuka says the completion of the 36-two bedroom flats is valued at $2.2 million.