23 Sep 2020

New Caledonia call to tackle squatting woes

4:57 pm on 23 September 2020

New Caledonia's pro-independence parties have proposed a law change to get guiding principles in order to deal with the squatter settlements in the Noumea area.

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Photo: AFP

They want urban planning to take into account these settlements, pointing out the populations have a legitimate place within the agglomeration.

In a statement, they said basic services needed to be provided to remedy insalubrious situations even though some of these settlements were built without any title on either public or private land.

They also suggested setting up structures for the community to manage these zones.

The parties said the proposal was linked to the 2019 electoral campaign debate to ensure better living conditions for those living in the squatter settlements.