Page 21 - IB Nov 2017

Climate change Green growth GCCI supports Fiji aDevelopment Feasibility study for
island’s solar energy project: P24
mainstream grwoth framework in NDC: P24

From Page 5
Between 2012 and 2014, Fiji’s Meth-
odist Church was instrumental in help-
ing the 130-odd villagers deal with the
traumatic decision to abandon their
tribal home.
“Our forefathers settled here, they are
buried here along with our memories,”
Ramatu said, tears streaming down his
weathered, lined face.
“It was not easy to move. This is our
birth-right, the gift of our ancestors to
be passed on by us to those who follow
yet we have abandoned this place.”
For the international community the
Vunidogoloa experience must be a ro-
mantic notion of flying to the rescue of
threatened tropical villagers and help-
ing them move from one piece of land
to another.
But in Vunidogoloa – as with much of
the Pacific – land is more than just real
estate. It has deep spiritual values which
are difficult to explain to the outsider. Wastage ... Ramatu with culverts the Fiji Government brought to the village and left there unused. Inset: Deserted ... the
The first step in the process was old village site. Photos: Invictus
to convince the villagers that climate
change was not a curse or punishment Labour Organisation to help empower water, internal bathrooms and toilets
from God nor had they betrayed their women and encourage small business. and solar lighting.
ancestors by choosing to leave. It remains un-stocked to this day. Those homes were not funded by the
Methodist Church President-elect, Also part of the government’s con- much publicised financial support from
Reverend Dr Epineri Vakadewavosa, tribution to relocation were the trucks the government.
was chosen to walk this journey with which rumbled into Vunidogoloa in In fact the villagers sold their native
the villagers because he was from the January 2014 to cart the villagers and forest for US$138,000 to local loggers
same geographical area. their belongings about one kilometre in return for material with which the
“The people felt that it was their duty uphill from the old site on the shores of homes were built to state-approved
to stay on the land God had given them Natewa Bay. plans.
at the old site,” Vakadewavosa said. Not content on being alone at the new And that is what irks Ramatu and the
“By then water was coming very close location, the villagers exhumed the vil- villagers – not the fact that they had
to entering their homes. At high tide lage graves and moved them to Kenani to pay but that the government would
they would wade through the village in a physically challenging and spiritu- claim it had relocated the community at
in knee-deep water. At night the waves ally traumatic experience. its own cost.
would slosh against the floor boards.” As Ramatu recounts the exercise of Because of his intimate knowledge
Finally the villagers were convinced moving the remains and leaving the vil- of climate change and relocation, Ra-
that despite the advancing waters, lage, older members of the community matu is often called to speak at national
God had provided an alternative sight, sit around him, heads bowed, wiping the events and share his experience.
a Promised Land, and they agreed to tears which spring to their eyes. “There are times when I meet Baini-
move. Manoa Rokotovitovi’s gnarled hands marama and he tells the people around
With elections approaching – the first rest on the grubby mat upon which he him – Look at that ungrateful, two-faced
after Bainimarama’s December 2006 sits. turaga-ni-koro (village headman). We
coup – the government rushed to show a Asked to explain what the move from paid for his village to be relocated and
genuine care for the people and courted Vunidogoloa to Kenani meant person- he voted SODELPA.”
international legitimacy and affirmation ally, Manoa looked down, his yellowed SODELPA is the Opposition Social
with US$250,000 towards relocation. finger nail scratching at the mat. Democratic Liberal Party.
Close to half that money was wasted A tear fell beside his finger and he “But we paid for the relocation our-
bulldozing land on which to build a looked away, his voice emerging as a selves and most of the government-
new community church without any whisper. assisted projects have not been com-
geo-technical analysis of the site which “What could we do against the force pleted,” Ramatu said.
remains vacant until today. of nature? In a few years we will be
The villagers worship in a community gone and even the young ones will not
hall about 500 metres from the shop remember the old village.” Continued overleaf
built at the behest of the International Today Kenani boasts wooden homes web link:
with tin roofs, guttering to collect rain www.islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, November 2017 21