Housing ‘Scam’: Eight Employees From Housing Authority Sacked
This was confirmed by the Minister for Housing Premila Kumar, adding that the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption was aware of this case.
She also said that the Housing Authority had no option, but to release them.
Ms Kumar also highlighted that she had been receiving calls, text messages and emails from the public, indicating their frustrations on the systems in place with the Housing Authority.
“They are telling me that their application had been lodged in 2007 or in 2011 and they are still waiting for their plots to be given,” the minister said.
“However, they have questioned on how other people they know who did not put an application for plots got theirs instead, which they questioning.”
Ms Kumar said that on the advice of the Housing Authority there was a system in place and this system picked them out randomly.
“But the more and more I realize that there was no system in place. Literally, there is no system that the system picks out,” she said.
“There has been a lot of corrupt practices going on in the allotment of lots, because the policies currently in place allow for corrupt practices to breed.”
The minister also indicated that they have had people who are given plots, who apparently just walked in ad had never lodged an application.
The ministry has directed the HA’s chief executive office to work with its board to make the authority more effective and to adopt transparent processes in the future allotment of lots.
The ministry is aware of other cases and will not hesitate to refer them to the Fiji Police Force or FICAC.
Credit: Fiji Sun
Date: 25/6/2020
