Minister for Lands, Filimoni Vosarogo is calling on the Mataqali Nabukarabe to exercise patience and refrain from closing the Nasarava Water Catchment in the North, after resource owners claimed that the Water Authority of Fiji has not paid the full amount agreed upon.
Mataqali Nabukarabe spokesperson Osea Waqaninavatu says the mataqali received $607,000 of the $1.4 million agreed to in April and was informed that the outstanding balance would be paid within two weeks.
He says no further payment has been received to date, and members of the mataqali are now seeking answers on when the remaining amount will be paid.
Waqaninavatu says the planned closure is a drastic measure aimed at compelling the Authority to pay what is rightfully owed to the resource owners.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Vosarogo says WAF is not a cash-rich organisation and operates on funding provided through the government's budget.
He has assured the resource owners that WAF will settle the outstanding amount that was agreed upon.
The Minister says he hopes both parties can find common ground before the seven-day deadline expires.
Insert: Vosarogo on Nabukarabe, 22nd June 2026
