Yavuna Village Celebrates New Water Source
Minister Koya commissions borehole
For decades, villagers of Yavuna in the Nausori highlands have been fetching water from a nearby river for their daily use.
This came to an end after the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Faiyaz Koya, on Friday commissioned a new borehole, which cost more than $67,000.
The villagers celebrated with joy as this also marked another milestone for them.
The new borehole would benefit 42 households with a village population of 235 people.
Among celebrants was Adi Kalaveni Natua, 51, who said witnessing the commissioning of their new borehole was a blessing.
“For thirty years since I got married into this village, we have using the river to wash our clothes and even at times for drinking,” she said.
“I am blessed because now that I have grandchildren I am still here to witness this, we have waited for a long time for this.”
The woman from Kubulau in Bua was married to the village turaga ni mataqali (clan head); they have seven children and three grandchildren.
“For us women who are married to this village, it was very hard for us to adapt within the first few years because water was a necessity of life,” Adi Kalaveni said. “Every morning all women have to wake up and go down to the river to wash clothes, clean our utensils and bathe before people start using the river.”
Mr Koya reminded villagers that it was Government’s priority that Fijians had access to clean drinking water.
“The people of Yavuna will now be able to enjoy a better life as water plays a crucial role in their daily lives from drinking, bathing, washing and cleaning,” he said.
Mr Koya also thanked his team for working tirelessly to ensure that the project was completed on time and that the villagers had access to clean drinking water.