Vunidogoloa villagers in Vanua Levu are still waiting for answers on several basic infrastructure and welfare needs, 12 years after the community was relocated from its original coastal site.
Former Vunidogoloa headman Sailosi Ramatu raised the concerns during the Pre-COP31 Climate Change Town Hall Forum at Nukubalavu Village in Savusavu this evening, saying the community has repeatedly sought Government assistance but has received no response on several of the issues.
Vunidogoloa was relocated about 2 kilometres inland from its original site in 2014, with coastal erosion among the factors that contributed to the relocation.
Ramatu says the drainage system at the new site was established during the relocation, but had not been maintained.
He warns that inadequate drainage could lead to further erosion at the new site.
Ramatu also raised concerns about the lack of proper access for elderly residents and people with disabilities, particularly during emergencies.
Insert: Ramatu - We are concerned for the elderly Sept 23
Another concern is the community church, which Ramatu says was supposed to be included in the relocation package.
He says residents had contributed around $260,000 of their own money towards completing the church, despite it having been included in the Government-funded relocation package.
Ramatu adds that the community has no proper ground or playground at the new site, which he describes as important for maintaining traditional practices and providing a safe space for young people.
He says the community had also been waiting for a proper farm road, which is particularly important because many residents now rely on farming for their livelihoods.
Ramatu says the community had been raising the farm road issue with Government for about 12 years but had still not received a response.
He says the community had spent close to $600,000 supporting aspects of the relocation process and is now seeking Government assistance to address the remaining needs.
Ramatu also called for the community hall to be extended so it can serve as an evacuation centre, particularly for elderly residents and people with disabilities.
When reiterated by fijivillage News Director and Fijian Media Association Executive Vijay Narayan that there had been no response after 12 years, Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica says previous community relocations had been carried out in an ad hoc manner.
Kamikamica says an Auditor-General's report had highlighted issues with some earlier relocations.
He says Government has since developed a standard operating procedure to improve the way future relocations are carried out.
Kamikamica says relocation was not simply about physically moving people, but also had to consider cultural, spiritual and practical needs.
Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Mosese Bulitavu says some of the issues raised by Ramatu, including farm roads, churches, playgrounds and accessibility for people with disabilities, had not been adequately considered in the original relocation package.
Bulitavu says the Government has since reviewed its standard operating procedure for the relocation trust fund and incorporated lessons from previous relocation projects.
He says existing Government programmes could potentially support footpaths, footbridges and evacuation facilities.
Bulitavu says that failures from the previous governments will be adressed.
