A 61-year-old woman from Navunikabi in Namosi has delivered an emotional plea against the proposed hydro dam developments, warning that the project threatens her land, water sources and future generations.
Speaking during the Climate Change Fallout – Development Transitions and Community Resilience: An International Talanoa on Transition Mineral Mining and Development Justice, organised by the Social Empowerment Educational Program, held at Fiji National University’s Nasinu Campus, Mareta Nayadi, a representative of the Namosi Landowners Committee LAMA (Lomani Au Maroroi Au) says the people of Navunikabi do not want the dams.
Insert: Mareta - Government think twice April 10
Challenging decision-makers directly, Nayadi questioned why communities are being asked to accept developments that would fundamentally alter their way of life.
She stresses that while development is important, it must not come at the expense of basic needs and cultural survival.
Nayadi says villagers rely heavily on the Navunikabi River for daily life—bathing, washing clothes and cooling off after long hours working under the sun.
She warns that altering the river through dam construction could disrupt natural ecosystems and increase risks during extreme weather, noting that heavy rains already cause flooding in parts of the village.
Nayadi says the women in the village do not have washing machines like people in town, they go to the river and use the stones as washing tools.
Beyond physical impacts, Nayadi also highlighted environmental and spiritual concerns, urging respect for natural habitats that sustain insects, plants and other organisms.
She further cautioned against prioritising financial gain over long-term sustainability, warning that future generations could be left with degraded land and unsafe water.
The proposed hydro dams are planned for areas within Namosi, including land owned by villages such as Wainikoroiluva, Wainikovu and Waivaka.
While some landowning units have reportedly agreed to the developments, members of the mataqali Nabukebuke in Navunikabi maintain they have not given consent and will be negatively affected.
