By LITIA BUKALIDI

Denimanu Village which is the only settlement located in the remote island of Yadua in Bua will now be moved to a new location.
About an hour and a half by boat from Bua Lomanikoro on Vanua Levu, Commissioner Northern Lieutenant-Colonel Ilai Moceica and his team of officials arrived in Yadua Island to visit  construction work on the new village site.
With the beautiful scenery and abundant marine resources, the people of Denimanu Village are still racing against time to combat the effect of climate change on their environment.
With the relocation of homes to the new site, the Commissioner Northern has urged the village to be supportive in constructing modernised structures on the site.
Lieutenant-Colonel Moceica has challenged the villagers to continue to support each other in constructing the new village site to be like a resort.
He said 12 houses had been completed; seven more will be constructed this month.
The new village site which has now been moved to higher ground to combat rising sea levels and tsunami will cater for the families whose homes were damaged by cyclone Evan in December last year.
The construction of one new home is costing the Government $15,000.
“The rehabilited homes were built by a local foreman and was assisted by some villagers,” he said.
The team of officials and the Commissioner Northern also took time out in beautifying the new site with the planting of flowers and yasi trees.
‘The vision of the People’s Charter is to build a better Fiji for all and this is why the Government is improving the living standards in urban areas. They are also targeting rural and remote areas such as Yadua Island.
He also told the villagers that they have to work harder on improving their standard of living for the future generation of Yadua Island.
Turaga ni Yavusa, Ratu Jone Cakau Tavatava, thanked the government of the day for the the new homes.
“Past leaders only give out food rations when it comes to cyclone relief assistance but this great help from the government of the day is a big boost to the community as a whole.