Matacaucau Village Headman raises concerns on gravel extraction without landowner consent

The Village Headman of Matacaucau Village in Tailevu has questioned the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways over what authority it has to extract gravel from the river without notifying landowners.

Speaking during the Fijian Media Association Town Hall Forum in Korovou, Kameli Ravula said he has a letter showing that the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways and the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources had reached an agreement to extract gravel from the river.

However, Ravula claims the landowners were never informed or asked for consent before gravel was removed from their land.

Ravula also raised concerns about the poor condition of the road leading to Matacaucau Village.

He said he has repeatedly asked Fiji Roads Authority officials at the depot if they could provide just one truckload of gravel to fill potholes along the road.

He said government officials travelling through the area would experience the rough conditions firsthand.

The Village Headman added that the deteriorating road has discouraged some taxi drivers from travelling to or dropping off passengers in the village.

Minister for Justice and Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said the landowners should always be notified whenever their land or natural resources are being used.

Responding to concerns about the road, a representative from the Fiji Roads Authority assured villagers that engineers would assess the road to determine whether it could be re-gravelled and drainage improved.

An 88-year-old villager of Matacaucau also expressed his frustration over the condition of the road, saying it has remained in a deplorable state for as long as he can remember.

Assistant Minister for Public Works Naisa Tuinaceva acknowledged the villager's concerns and instructed the Fiji Roads Authority to carry out the necessary work on the road leading to Matacaucau Village.