The Lagilagi Controversy: Government and the People's Community Network, Part II

Fr Barr and the PM (left) in happier times. pn422

Working in Informal Settlements 
by Fr Kevin Barr
(my sub-head and underlining)


Over the last 38 years that I have been living in Fiji, I have initiated, and been involved in several programs and projects relating to the poor in the broad area of social justice. Among these has been working with those who live in squatter settlements. 

People's Community Network
The People’s community Network (PCN) established in 2009 is currently experiencing very difficult and sad times. The PCN has been doing a lot of work for the poorer people of the country living in about 172 squatter settlements throughout Fiji. We have had so many workshops urging people to get strength and vision for the future. We have done a lot of work to help children in schools, and running programs for them. We even did research work when bus fares went up some years ago, and based on research findings, urged government to give free fares for most children. Also we took over 200 children out of child labour in 15 squatter settlements (with help from the ILO). We have also started a farming project in three areas – Vanuakula (2) and Lomaivuna - which helps poor people in squatter settlements to start a new life on the land.

We have run a large number of Social Analysis Workshops attended by community representatives. They have been held in Jittu, Wailoa, Nanuku, Muanivatu, Korolailai, Biliwai, Muslim League, Caubati, and Veisaisi. There were so many problems that were identified.

 But the common problems identified were secure land tenure, better housing and better education. PCN aimed at empowering the community to stand up and take ownership of their problems and find a solution. We all targeted security of land tenure because many faced eviction especially in the Central Division – the Pony club, Kilikili, Namadai, Tamavua and Muanivatu. 

There were a few strategies that were identified with – building drainage, toilets, sea walls, footpaths and roads. We were also involved in repairing community halls, a health care centre and helping a few people to start a small business. This is where the savings idea came into practice. 

The Lagilagi Controversy
A few years ago (2008) we began the Lagilagi housing project. The Prime Minister called on us to see what we were doing for the poor settlements. He asked us what else we might need. We suggested that we try and build better homes for many of the poor in the Suva area.

 I expressed the hope that we might be able to build houses in the Lagilagi area where there were about 1050 families in the squatter area. He kindly inspected that area and gave us a lease to begin the work on building proper houses. We had wonderful builders (Fortech) and architects (AAPi) and other groups who helped us. By 2015 we opened the first 76 homes. The Prime Minister came and opened the homes and he encouraged us to build more homes for the squatters in that area and other nearby squatter settlements.

When Mr Samautua resigned as the Minister for Local Government and Housing, the Attorney General (Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum) then took over that Ministry. I visited him to ask permission as to whom we should engage to continue the work on the building of the homes at Lagilagi . He gave high praise to those who were already involved and told us to continue with them. We drew up a budget in January 2014 for the funds needed to complete another 76 houses in Stage 2 of Lagilagi in December 2016. This was approved but the $12.687m was to be given in stages.

Then the new Minister Parveen Bala was appointed. He caused us some big
problems in getting funds to the builders on time. I wrote to him on the 31st
August 2016. The builders threatened us by taking us to court because of the
delays in the funding being paid. Because of the delays in payment there was a
rise in building costs. 

After this I had a meeting (November 2016) with the AG about the lack of the promised finance. Minister Praveen Bala was present and promised to get the funds delivered to us. Before we left we also had a meeting with Tracey Wong the lady in charge of the funding. It was a dreadful meeting and the lady showed a lack of knowledge as to how the Builders, the Architects and PCN submitted their regular accounts to government about the  use of funds. The Builder actually produced a beautiful document every month with photos to show how the building was progressing.

In December 2016 I was in Sydney and was booked to fly back to Fiji on the 2nd January 2017. As I was preparing for the flight I had a stroke and was taken to hospital. The doctor who attended to me said that the stroke was caused by a big problem and worry in my life. I agreed. I told him that I was worried and upset because (a) Minister Praveen Bala had not got us the money on time to have the 76 houses built on time and (b) the broken hearts of 76 families who will not get their homes on time for which they had longed. I was in hospital and after care for about 4 months and when I returned to Fiji I had to cut down on my work load. I left most of my work to Mr Semiti Qalowasa, the National Director of PCN.

Now in 2019 I discovered that there are some big problems:

The 76 houses had not been built, and only 40 had been put up recently. This meant that the Minister Praveen Bala had not been getting the money to the Builders and the cost of building materials had risen because of the long delays in getting the funds. The Minister put in 9 families from other areas who had suffered the burning of their homes. Another 5 homes had bee

This had caused a big crisis for so many of our people in the area we worked in. This caused a riot. Some houses were broken into and there was a big out-cry against us at PCN. And yet it was the previous Minister not PCN who was responsible.

However we also discovered that one of our senior staff had been taking money from the people and keeping it for himself. The money should have been paid only to the Finance people in the PCN Office. This case of serious fraud by the staff member has been reported to the police, and he has been sacked from PCN.

Now the Fiji Competition and Commerce Commission (FCCC) are causing some problems for the Board and Trustees of PCN based on the way some people are complaining against PCN for not giving them the houses when they had provided various sums of money to a certain staff member.

The following are points that have arisen with FCCC’s investigation of PCN:

1.They say they are investigating PCN due to the complaints of some people who had given some money to PCN for homes in Lagilagi. I pointed out that in September 2018 we had a letter from FICAC stating that they had investigated PCN and found that all finances had been kept well.

2. FCCC asked that Mr Semiti Qalowasa provide a number of documents in a very short time (3 days). However it would take PCN much longer to get all the many documents they requested. He was charged as “guilty” in court for not getting all these documents in such a short time.

3. I pointed out that the real reason for the complaints received by FCCC was the failure of the previous Minister Praveen Bala to get funds to the Builder on time and this caused only a small number of houses to be build (and some given out to others on his insistence).
 
4. I also pointed out that as part of the upset, one of our senior staff had collected a large amount of money from some people and put it into his own pocket.
 
5. FCCC has called a large number of past and present Board and Trustee members to come and answer a lot of questions.
 
6. Mr Semiti Qalowasa had prepared a large list of people who would occupy the 76 houses being built in Lagilagi. He had investigated these people to make sure that (a) they were not well-off in their finances and (b) they did not have houses and land elsewhere.
 
7. I personally was concerned that two people (Walo and Eroni) who have been causing big problems for us may be involved in the present situation. Their article in the Island Business had been full of so many lies. I had replied to all this.

Now I am too sick to go further because of the problems at Lagilagi, (caused by the previous Minister, and a senior staff member). I have been struck by sickness now following my stroke. I cannot go on at the moment and need to rest at my home. 

But I want to see the PCN work for the poor in Fiji continue. They have reached out to thousands of poor people and helped to empower them in the world today. I have spent my 38 years in Fiji to reach out to all my brothers and sisters in Fiji and make friends with so many of them. I have helped many of the poor and see them as my friends. But I am getting old now and need to hand over to other people. My disappointment has been caused by a few people who have been jealous and nasty and want to stop all our good work in Fiji.

We need greater love, joy, peace and hope.