Minister Clarifies Nabavatu and Cogea Relocation Delay

GOVERNMENT HAS ITS RELOCATION GUIDELINES AND IT NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED: MINISTER INIA SERUIRATU

Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu has made it clear that the Government has its relocation guidelines and it needs to be followed.

His comment comes after questions raised over delay on the relocation of Cogea Village in Bua and Nabavatu in Macuata.

Many houses were completely washed away in Cogea Village by Tropical Cyclone (TC) Yasa on December 17, 2020.

Heavy rain brought in by TC Ana on January 31, 2021, flooded many homes and left cracks behind on the land.

“We, the office from rural development, we facilitate on behalf of the communities, but there are a lot of issues that need to be resolved first before we can do the permanent relocation,” Mr Seruiratu said.

“Those issues are beyond the ministry such as the geo-tech survey which we must ensure that it is done.”

Update on Nabavatu

For the people of Nabavatu particularly he said the biggest issue was land, since they do not have land of their own in which they could relocate them, so the only option was to look at state land and this would take time.

He said they were still in discussions particularly with the Ministry of Lands and the Department of Town and Country Planning.

Once those conditions were met then the rest of the work would progress.

He confirmed that the Government had set aside some money for the preparatory work.

“It is with the Ministry of Economy, but we cannot access it unless the land issue is first sorted,” he said.

Relocation is partnership

Mr Seruiratu highlighted that in terms of relocation, it was a partnership which many forget.

He said communities had a responsibility to provide.

He reiterated what the Government did for Vunidogoloa Village in 2014.

“Government is not going to foot all the bills and people have to put in their shares as well,” he said.

“For Nabavatu they are undecided. We have already facilitated for them to work with the local companies in Vanua Levu for the provision of timber to be sawn, but the communities are undecided as well.”

People remain at old village site

When Mr Seruiratu was made aware that there are some people who haven’t moved out of Nabavatu even though it’s not safe. He said they had to respect everybody’s choices.

“Government has made its recommendation

and according to the Ministry of Mineral Resources it’s no longer safe and everybody knows that,” he said.

“But we knew from the very beginning that some people resisted. They did not want to move and that’s their choice.”

Update on Cogea Village

Mr Seruiratu made it clear that they would not rush into the relocation plan for Cogea Village.

He said they have learned from what happened at Vatukuca in 2006.

“They went ahead with the land preparation of the new site without geo-tech survey and when the geotech came it was not recommended,” he said.

Vatukuca had to stay in its current location, that’s where it is remaining now.