Serious consideration needs to be done because there is a high demand for evacuation centres in the Northern Division.

During a one-day work tour to Vanua Levu, Minister for Natural Disaster and Management Inia Seruiratu said the need to provide safety and security for the people was paramount.

“We are living in this new norm, the catastrophes that we are facing are very unpredictable and it is getting worse as well,” he said.

“We cannot expose our people to the environment they’re currently in, as they live in low lying areas and it is even worse when a cyclone does come.”

He added that the communities needed to work with the Government to see what options were available.

“Hopefully the communities will work together with authorities and Government agencies to have some concrete plans for the future.

Nov-April Cyclone season

Mr Seruiratu said Fijians need to be vigilant.

“We need to take our responsibilities seriously, let’s move when it is safe,” he said.

“Again, we are not out of the season yet, the prediction is that we will have two or three cyclones coming our way, we have gone through the first one, God forbid for the next two.”

Mr Seruiratu instructed the need for divisional commissioners to contact their local officials and continue to work together for the good and the betterment of the communities.

Nabavatu Village relocation:

Mr Seruiratu said the prerequisite to the relocation guidelines were yet to be completed.

“The complication is in the land issue as it involves crown land and the process is still in its consultation stages and hopefully there will be some decisions taken as well.

“In the meantime we support them and provide for them in the temporary site that they’re in as they are the only community living in the evacuation centres in the Northern Division.”

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