Informal Settlement

It is estimated that roughly 24,000 ni-Vanuatu men, women, and children live in housing located on land that is neither indigenous nor formally leased. Many of those in informal settlements are able to lead happy lives. Some live rent free on land through relationships built on trust and respect, while others live knowingly on land they have no right to occupy. And some enter an informal lease arrangement with a customary land owner, paying them an agreed rent on land. The major disadvantage of informal settlement is uncertainty. Recently, many high profile evictions have drawn attention on what is at stake. This episode explores these advantages and disadvantages of informal settlement.