LOMAIVITI Batiki Day Surpasses Target
Majority will go to Provincial Council office
The decision by the Lomaiviti Provincial Council meeting at Sawaike, Gau, to postpone the Lomaiviti Festival this year prompted the people of Batiki Island to hold Batiki Day. The fund drive was held at John Wesley College in Raiwaqa, Suva, on Saturday.
Batiki delegate (mata ni tikina) to the council Tevita Vakatale said their target was $26,000 and they were able to raise $27,200. He said all those paying the provincial levy (soli ni yasana) were required to pay $50 as a requirement.
“Majority of the amount will go to the Provincial Council office and the rest will be shared to their investment and to the villages,” he said.
On developments on the island Mr Vakatale said the Sea Mercy - a United States-based non-profit organisation had built women centres in all the villages for the women to carry out their work. He said they provided food and all housing materials were provided by Sea Mercy.
The organisation’s mission is to “stand in the gap” with service delivery vessels, trained health volunteers, support equipment, and critical care services as island nations develop their “outer island” infrastructures.
There are four villages in Batiki – Mua, Yavu, Manuku and Naigani. The island chief is traditionally known as “Turaga na
Tora ni Bau”. Batiki is in the centre of the Lomaiviti Group in
On the development on the island Mr Vakatale said the Sea Mercy - a United States-based non-profit organisation had built women centres in all the villages for the women to carry out their work.