Tropical Cyclone Winston did not stop villagers of Nabulini Village of Wainibuka district in Tailevu to restart their lives.

The strong wind and the heavy rainfall have completely destroyed their banana plantation and the root crops.

Turaga-ni-koro (headman) of the village Naibuka Tarasese said: “We are now working together to start our lives again.

“It will take some time for us to get back on our feet but, we have not lost hope,” he said.

There are 56 houses on the village and more than 200 hundred villagers. Out of the 56 houses, 34 houses are damaged by the cyclone.

“Banana is our main source of income. We sell bananas to market vendors all around Fiji.

“Our clients are affected by this and we are also affected,” he said.

Mr Tarasese said Nabulini Village is a farming community and there are no root crops and banana plants are left on their farmers.

“It will take us about six months to recover.

The villagers are now surviving with leftover crops on their farms,” he said.

Mr Tarasese said the villagers are now working to rebuild their houses again.

“The villagers were safe and during the cyclone they were at the three evacuation centres in the village.

“This was one of the worst cyclones that have ever hit our village.

“The books for the school children on this village are damaged,” he said.

Mr Tarasese have requested the Fijian Government if they could help the children to the village with their school books.

Meanwhile, Mr Tarasese has thanked the Government and those companies who have helped the villagers with food packs.

Edited by Maraia Vula

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