Due to the frequent flooding challenges faced by the villagers of Vunivau in Labasa, serious concerns have been raised for the need to relocate the village.
While responding to our questions, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Sivendra Michael confirms that Vunivau Village has been flagged by the Commissioner of the Northern Division and is on the list of communities under review for potential relocation.
Michael says the government is currently completing the relocation of Nabavatu Village along with other communities in the North, while Nakanacagi Village remains on the waiting list.
He says the Climate Change Division has an established process for managing relocation requests, as outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures for Planned Relocation.
The Permanent Secretary adds that all relocation requests from i-Taukei villages must be raised through the Village Headman and formally submitted to the respective Commissioner’s Office, while for non-iTaukei communities can go through their community representative to the Commissioner's Office.
