It was all smiles for the villagers of Yacata Island as they now feel safer with the opening of their new village hall and evacuation centre.
Vatuvara and Kai bu Group of Islands funded the $500,000 new facility.
Speaking at the opening of the village hall, Vatuvara Group of Islands General Manager, Rob Miller says this new facility is for the youth of today who are the future of the village.
Miller says that the Group believes in dedicating to the young people of Yacata.
He also reminded the villagers to take care of the hall as it is a very important aspect of their lives now.
The Yacata village elders showed their appreciation to the Vatuvara and Kaibu Group of Islands for this timely donation.
The Yacata Co‑operative Store has also been completed as they await the next trip of The Kaibu barge to transport all the goods to fill up the shop.
Funds for the building materials were donated by the New Zealand High Commission and upon their request, the RFMF Engineers stepped in to build it.
The people of Yacata are very grateful for the tremendous help and support of Kaibu/Vatuvara and also to The New Zealand High Commission, especially after the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Winston last year.
Yacata island in Fiji's northern Lau Group took the brunt of the category 5 storm as it swept through Fiji.
48 of the 200 people who live on Yacata were evacuated in a Twin Otter aircraft and some were hospitalized during TC Winston.
