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Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts
Sunday, 7 July 2019
Some Useful Ideas on How to Resolve NZ's Housing Crisis
Thursday, 28 September 2017
Jeremy Corbyn on UK Labour's Housing Policy
Jeremy Corbyn has described the “chilling wreckage of Grenfell Tower” as a monument to a failed economic and housing system in the UK as he set out Labour plans for city-wide rent controls and a crackdown on gentrification projects. Pn17.
The Labour leader used his speech to his party’s first annual conference since stripping Theresa May of a parliamentary majority to deliver his long-held ideological vision for Britain, declaring the neoliberal economic model “forged by Margaret Thatcher many years ago” as broken.
Corbyn said his views, once seen as on the fringes of the Labour party, now represented the centre ground, which he said had shifted from where “establishment pundits” claimed it to be. “This is the real centre of gravity of British politics. We are now the political mainstream,” he said, contrasting Labour’s enthusiasm with a Tory party he claimed was “bereft of ideas and energy”.
In a deliberate break from the economic policies of Tony Blair, Corbyn promised more state intervention in housing and utilities and said he was ready to increase taxes on big business, in a 75-minute address to a sometimes rapturous audience in Brighton.
The Labour leader emerged into the hall to chants of “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn” from cheering delegates, some of whom waved red scarves above their heads. “It is quite infectious. Let’s make sure the whole country is infected with the same thing,” he said of the enthusiasm in the hall.
Corbyn reserved his most detailed proposals in the speech for housing. He promised that a Labour government would ensure tenants on estates being redeveloped would be allowed to return to them once they were rebuilt.
Councils would also have to win ballots of local residents before being allowed to embark on regeneration projects. Land held by developers but not used would be taxed, Corbyn added.
He promised that cities would be given the power to control rents, and his advisers indicated that he wanted to go further than a pre-election promise to limit rent rises to the inflation rate. “Rent controls exist in many cities across the world and I want our cities to have those powers too and tenants to have those protections,” Corbyn said.
Labour sources said the party would be looking at models of rent control in cities across the world as part of a review, and said the property market was “dysfunctional”.
Corbyn said: “We also need to tax undeveloped land held by developers and have the power to compulsorily purchase. As Ed Miliband said: use it or lose it. Families need homes. No social cleansing. No jacking up rents. No exorbitant ground rents. If you want to see how the poor die, come see Grenfell Tower,” he added, quoting the poet and novelist Ben Okri.
Corbyn’s clear shift to the left and promise to rein in free markets came as Theresa May prepared to make a spirited defence of capitalism in a speech on Thursday to mark 20 years since Labour, under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, made the Bank of England independent.
The prime minister, who began her professional life at the bank in 1977, was expected to say: “A free market economy, operating under the right rules and regulations, is the greatest agent of collective human progress ever created.”
Labour sources said Corbyn’s vision was not about dismantling capitalism, but about rebalancing the economy with more state involvement.
The speech drew widespread criticism from business groups, who said they were opposed to more state intervention and felt Labour was not representing their interests, even though some of the policies such as rent control and utility nationalisation appear popular with the public.
The CBI’s Carolyn Fairbairn said there were “few warm words” from the Labour leader. “Repeated rhetoric on the sins of a handful of businesses does little to reassure anxious entrepreneurs and investors about the UK’s future as a great place to do business.”
Corbyn argued that the election result had forced the Tories to drop policies including the so-called dementia tax, plans to means-test the winter fuel allowance, proposals for more grammar schools and the prospect of fox-hunting being brought back in. “They seem to be cherry-picking Labour policies instead, including on Brexit,” he said.
“I say to the prime minister: you’re welcome. But go the whole hog – end austerity, abolish tuition fees, scrap the public sector pay cap.”
He argued that the Labour party was ready for government and sought to contrast it with the state of the Conservative government, mocking May’s election slogan by saying: “They are not strong and they are definitely not stable. They are hanging on by their fingertips.”
Corbyn also attacked the media in the speech, saying they were “under instruction from their tax-exile owners to destroy the Labour party”. He said one paper had devoted 14-pages to attacking Labour, and the party’s vote had gone up by 14 points. “Never have so many trees died in vain,” he said, adding provocatively: “Here is a message to the Daily Mail editor: next time make it 28 pages.”
He said Diane Abbott had borne the brunt of much of the abuse – a line that prompted the audience to rise in standing ovation and sing happy birthday to the shadow home secretary. “She suffered intolerable misogynist and racist abuse,” he said. In a nod to the party rule change on abuse passed on Tuesday, he went on: “There can never ever be any excuse for any abuse of anyone, we are not having it, not accepting it, not allowing it.”
However, Corbyn was criticised by some commentators on social media for failing to explicitly mention antisemitism after controversy over comments made at a fringe event.
The Labour leader’s heaviest attack on the Tory government came over Brexit as he accused them of having a “hopelessly inept negotiating team” and putting “posturing for personal advantage” over the national interest.
After a week in which Boris Johnson was accused of undermining the prime minister and chancellor before and after a critical speech in Florence, Corbyn said: “Never has the national interest been so ill-served on such a vital issue. If there were no other reason for the Tories to go, their self-interested Brexit bungling would be reason enough.”
Facing pressure from his own party on Brexit over calls to remain permanently in the European Economic Area and maintain free movement, Corbyn promised Labour’s approach would guarantee “unimpeded access to the single market”. He promised an approach to Brexit “that puts our economy first, not fake immigration targets that fan the flames of fear”.
And he promised: “We will do politics differently. And the vital word there is ‘we’. Not just leaders saying things are different, but everyone having the chance to shape our democracy”. He said Labour would make “business accountable to the public, and politicians truly accountable to those we serve”.
There was a limited number of new policy proposals, including a promise to change the organ donation law and warnings of fines for big companies that failed to complete gender audits. Several policies from the party’s 2017 election manifesto were repeated, including a pledge to nationalise the water industry.
But there was a backlash from business. Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce claimed there were concerns with both main political parties, “with one flirting with fantasy economics while the other engages in an unedifying playground bust-up”.
Stephen Martin, director general of the Institute of Directors, said that while business leaders weren’t expecting praise they would be disappointed to hear nothing positive about companies “large and small, that form the bedrock of our economy”.
The Conservatives claimed that the cost of enacting all of Labour’s pledges had now spiralled to £312bn. Damian Green, the first secretary of state, said: “Jeremy Corbyn’s speech summed up the problem with Labour: lots of big promises, but no explanation of how they would deliver them.”
Since you’re here …
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
China Helps Towards Energy Sustainability, Into Potatoes, Housing, Squatters, Labour Reforms
N0281. 90% RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2015? The Fiji Electricity Authority hopes new renewable energy initiatives will help it to meet this target, that would cover a peak daily demand of 217 MW (1045 GWh per annum), by 2015.
The projects include the waste-to-energy power generators by iVITI Renewable Disenergy Power Plants, and Pacific Renewable Energy's wood-fired Lautoka plant.
FEA is also investigating wind-farm possibilities for Ovalau, and the use of bagasse from the Fiji Sugar's Rarawai Mill. There is also a proposal by a new Independent Power Producer for an 8.5 MW biomass-fired power plant for Labasa, to be phased in over five years.
N0282. SWITCHING FROM SUGAR TO POTATOES. A landowning unit (and farm co-operative) at Mataso in inland Ra province that has been farming sugar cane for 50 years is switching to potatoes and vegetable farming. They say they are cheaper to produce because of quicker maturity and they are cheaper to transport.From two hectares of land the co-operative earns between $12,000-$20,000 a year, and the money has already helped improve the lives of the villagers. They have been assisted by the Ministry of Agriculture in the new new venture and Government has provided a tractor.
N0283.N0284. WIDE CONSULTATION ON HOUSING POLICY. Fiji has a major housing problem with up to one-fifth of its population living in squatter areas and many more unable to afford present housing prices.
Work towards a resolution of the problem and the formulation of a national housing policy commenced in June 2009. A steering committee of key stakeholders was appointed and broad-based consultations were held to examine options on public and social housing. UN-Habitat assisted with advice based on its global experience and lessons learnt from international best practices.
The Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment launched the National Housing Policy earlier today. The policy is designed to provide a new strategic vision to achieve the goal of affordable housing for all. -- Based on No.0733/MOI.
N0285. MORE ACTION ON URBAN SQUATTING. A delegation from the Asia Coalition of Housing Action was in Fiji recently to discuss squatter upgrading projects with town and city special administrators as well as officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Urban Development. According to the Director of Housing and Squatter Settlement, Kolinio Bola, the parties agreed "that 15 squatter upgrading programmes will be undertaken over the the next three years with a total budget of $1.2 million.”
N0286. LABOUR REFORMS. Fiji is well in advance on its labour reform programmes and is being recognised as the role model on labour reform for Pacific Island countries. Labour permanent secretary Taito Waqa said yesterday Fiji's Occupational Health and Safety reforms were recognised by the ILO which is using the Fiji's reform model in other Pacific Island countries.
Monday, 14 March 2011
Stoves and Poultry Empowerment, Kadrala Cult, Use the Land, Fish for EU, Hardware Prices Plummet
Mary Naloga from Nakabuta Village said she had never seen anything like a smokeless stove that could two pots with so little firewood. She said she was “very excited about learning this technique of cooking and the step by step process to make a smokeless stove. Since we have the resources, we can easily make one for our families."
She thanked Government for the opportunities to learn new skills ...like poultry training and through Ministry of Health we were educated about our health and different health programmes. It has been an eye opener for us.”
Agriculture training officer Makalei Drauna said the main aim of the poultry programme was to help women generate income for their families. "There's a a huge demand for poultry in the Northern Division with prices ranging from $35 to $45 for chickens in Labasa market, " he said.
N213. CULTS ALIVE IN RA. Ra provincial administrator Joji Satakala has confirmed a Government team has been set up specifically to eradicate cult groups and sects in parts of rural Ra. He said governnment is especially concerned because cult members do not allow their children to go to school and because of the accepted practice for men to sleep with any female member of the group.
The most widely known groups are Remnant in Soa, a Kadrala church group in Naboutolu and the followers of the late Sairusi Nabogibogi at Selemi in Nakorotubu.
He said "If we can break the Kadrala cult practices at Vatukacevaceva, which has been around for more than 40 years, then there will be no problem abolishing other cults in the province. We want all students to attend school because only education can bring about development in Ra.
N214. USE THE LAND. A dalo (taro) farming scheme at Nasolo in Bua has created employment for many village youths and when harvested is expected to earn $286,000 in a year. During his visit last week the PM said this was a good example of what Government means when it urges people to work hard and use the resources available to them.
The villagers told the PM they needed a new bridge to help speed the transportation of their produce to the market, and would welcome goverment's assistance in securing overseas markets. The PM has offered, in principle, his support for the project, and said people needed to work hard before thinking of going to Government to ask for help.
N215. FIJI FISH FOR EU. Fiji’s fisheries products will now be accepted in the EU market tariff-free after the European Parliament approved a trade agreement with Fiji. Fiji was delisted from exporting fish to the European Union market following the outcome of an audit back in 2007.
N216. HARDWARE PRICES PLUMMET. Commerce Commission enquiries have resulted in an average drop of hardware prices by 35%. This follows detailed and analyzed investigations into the prices in hardware shops for the past year. Commission chairman Dr Mahendra Reddy said the final prices were determined following consultations with stakeholders and hardware companies.
The new prices will only affect items under price control but this covers items ranging from 645 at Carpenters to 2,220 at RC Manubhai.The impact on low-cost and self-help housing construction can only be positive. -- Based on 0579/MOI.
Monday, 24 January 2011
It's Only a (FRU) Game & Ugly Racism, Housing Authority Helps Poor, EU Extends Agreements
Reader's opinions on the new posting days and times would be most welcome.
N0065. A NEW BALL GAME. In a new development the FRU Board, on the advice of the International Rugby Board, has reversed its decision and will not resign over the lottery saga.
The IRB apparently think changes to management could be a contravention of the FRU constitution which "could result in the IRB having to take a determination on the continued membership of the IRB of the FRU." They have further advised that a decision on the lottery is a matter between the FRU and the Fiji Commerce Commission.
The IRB made no mention of the inspection of the FRU accounts that suggested mismanagement and misspending (at least $150,000 is missing), and they had nothing to say on charging two different prices for the same ticket, which, surely, is at the crux of the issue. Fiji does not need anyone, at home or overseas, to condone the mismanagement of public money. Mismanagement and misuse of office are but short steps on the way to full-blown corruption.
'UGLY RACISM'
And on this issue, the supposedly pro-democracy CoupFourPointFive blog published this comment from one of their readers.
- "IRB vs Regime - & the winner is?
-
Remove the scumbags said... - Time to totally isolate the scumbags in this military regime. Ban Fiji rugby Union from the world cup and all other international rugby until the human rights abusing Fiji military return to their filthy barracks. As for their few cowardly coup supporters - read the latest in the Cros Walsh pro junta racist blog - he and his mongoose supporters (in their bitterness and desperation) are now attacking the hapless families of the NZ mine disaster and the floods in Australia. Vermin, all of them."
Pike River disaster in this blog. The person commenting has made this up.
The CoupFourPointFive comment was brought to my attention by a reader who wrote:
Ugly racism at 4.5 has left a new comment on your post "Why the Roadmap? The Politics under the Bridges Pa...":
"Croz, to follow is yet another disgraceful example of the way Coup 4.5 tolerates, and arguably encourages, racist comments about Indo-Fijians.
Like you, the site's operators have the ability to screen such material and choose not to do so. Yet they routinely reject moderate opinion that in any way portrays the Bainimarama regime in a favourable light. I would strongly urge you to tackle this appalling racism head-on by giving such postings the highest prominence on your site. It's high time to go to war against 4.5, a site that poses as moderate and pro-democratic but is really a front for the racists of the indigenous hard right. More than anything, this shows why the coup of 2006 was vital to protect the rights of other citizens. And we need to keep our boots on their miserable throats."
N0066. HOUSING AUTHORITY HELPS POOR AND UNEMPLOYED. The Housing Authority Board has approved a new housing loan rehabilitation policy that will assist customers who are finding it difficult to meet their loan repayments due to retirement, sickness, unemployment and disability. The policy will also assist those defaulting customers who are covered under the Village Housing Scheme. The new policy will target customers who have paid more than twice the principle loan amount, and those who are unemployed or facing financial difficulties.
The PM said the policy is not a handout but a "social desire to assist the marginalized and those who are at risk of losing their homes." It will assist home owners by either writing off part or the whole of their remaining loan or by temporarily assisting the unemployed by freezing the interest and fees on the loan balance for up to 12 months. Hundreds of middle and low income families are expected to be assisted under the policy.
N0067. EU PARLIAMENT EXTENDS AGREEMENTS.The European Union has extended its Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EPA) trade agreements with Fiji and PNG, and stated that it has a strong interest in continuing to maintain close, high-level economic relations with the Pacific states. The EU parliament added that the agreement could also lead to negotiations on a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement if so desired by the two countries.
The Interim EPA was initiated by Fiji and PNG in 2007 and signed by them in 2009 in order to ensure that preferential exports of sugar and fish into the EU market continue after the expiry of the trade preferences under the Cotonou Agreement on 1st January 2008.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Ratu Kubuabola said that I-EPA was critical to the survival of the Fiji Sugar Industry because is provided a guaranteed market access into the European Union until 2015, at preferential price, which was equivalent to the price received by the European Union Sugar producers. He hoped that after 2015, the agricultural reforms undertaken by the European Union will ensure that the interest of Fiji and other ACP Sugar producers will be maintained in the European Union market. Ratu Inoke was hopeful the ban on fisheries exports will be lifted now that health and safety issues have been addressed.
A meeting of the Pacific ACP Trade Ministers will be meeting in Apia on 3-4 February to instill momentum in the Comprehensive EPA negotiations with the European Union. --- Based on 2011, No: 0154/MOI.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Nation-Building: Language, Flags, Symbols; Fiji Sun Squatter Heading Misleading, Squatter Policies & Solutions
"Perhaps the best way to explain a national language is to consider it as an honorary title, a symbol of respect and nation-building, but without the utility value of official languages that are used in legal documents, the courts, and so on.
"The decisions to use "Fijian" for all Fiji citizens, the proposal on a national language, and today's announcement that all Govt buildings will fly the Fiji flag, are all symbolic ways intended to unite the nation."
The reader thought Singaporeans were confused by their arrangements. I replied: "Believe me, Singaporeans are not at all confused. Irrespective of their many ethnicities and languages, they are all proud of the peace and harmony they enjoy today. And it all started with symbols like this."
FLYING THE FLAG AND INDEPENDENCE DAY. Government has approved the flying of the Fiji flag on all government premises, business houses, schools, various institutions and residential houses from the October 1 to 10.
"Flying of the Fiji flag symbolises the national pride in our heritage and is an expression of our patriotism for Fiji, our heaven, our home and our country." Fiji will celebrate the 40th year of Independence on October 7th and 8th. --Based on 2010 No:1552/MOI. [Why limit the flag flying to these dates? Patriotism does not start and finish on October 7-8.]
FIJI SUN's MISLEADING SQUATTER HEADING. A headline that reads "Ministry will tear down homes" plays straight into the hands of government opponents because it falsely shows government as unfeeling towards the poor and otherwise homeless. The article then proceeds to correct its sensationalist misinformation.
The announcement by Ministry of Lands Permanent Secretary Lt.Col. Neumi Leweni refers only to newly built houses on crown or state land.It does not include older homes or any homes on native* or private land. Neither would the homes be torn down. The PS said the houses would be "removed." He then went on to talk about the development of state land, a move that would allow people to buy their own lots and move into the settlements, and that “people living in squatter settlements will be given first chance in occupying the new housing to be constructed for squatters.” He said the first phase of development had already started at Jittu Estate in Suva and rounded up by saying that Government is "serious in its bid to reduce squatters in the country," estimated at 15% of the population in more than 200 squatter settlements.
Far from tearing down homes and leaving people homeless, Government is trying to find a solution to the squatter problem that was virtually ignored by the previous government. And that is what the Sun's headline should have said.
* Interestingly, ethnic Fijians households with vakavanua arrangements with native landowners are not considered squatters, even though they present similar town planning problems, and their occupance is at best extra-legal. Fijian urban villages present urban planning problems that also will need to be addressed further down the road.
SQUATTERS NEGLECTED BY PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS. A month earlier, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony at Tacirua East, north of Suva, where the Housing Authority will develop 1,050 lots and build 900 housing units for low, middle and high income earners, the PM said “Concomitantly previous governments failed to tackle the growth of squatter communities and neglected those who needed housing assistance.
My Government has demanded that Housing Authority and Public Rental Board contribute in a tangible fashion to resolve and solve the housing and squatter challenges. However, subsequently and over the years, Housing Authority and the Public Rental Board relented on its core values and principles.”
Another project assisted by government is the $4million housing project at Lagilagi settlement at the Jittu squatter Estate in Suva City.-- Based on 2010 No:1436/MOI.
MY OPINIONS ON THE SQUATTER PROBLEM. I researched squatters and squatter settlements in Greater Suva in the 1970s for my doctoral degree. While agreeing with much of what Government and the Housing Authority are now doing, I do not think the resources are available to solve the problem. There are just too many squatters and not enough money.
For this reason I think that monitored and assisted site and basic services provision should be a major part of the solution. Government could assist in several ways: in addition to providing the site, basic roading and street lighting, water, sewerage and electricity connections, they could also provide carpentry training, overall supervision, subsidized building materials, and loans. The Military and volunteers could also be involved.
This approach would see groups of squatter families directly involved in solving the problem. They would build houses to the design and size they could afford, extending the house as their circumstances improved. Self help housing is a way of helping people solve their housing problems in an organized manner.
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