The leader of Yavusa Tibitibi, Suliasi Bakea, is demanding the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) to get its act together fast and resolve the water crisis problem at Wainikoro, Macuata Province.

Since last Thursday, more than 2000 people including three schools, health centre, government stations and five shops have been without metered water supply.

The landowners have closed the water supply from the catchment, which is located on their land.

Mr Bakea, 84, of Ravita Village, said they have been requesting relevant authorities and past Governments to give their land lease payment for the past 50 years.

“During this five decades, WAF continued to install water meters for their customers and they have been getting money,” Mr Bakea said.

“If customers don’t pay their bills, then they disconnect their metre and later charge them extra fees.”

In return, the landowners over the years, never got their share of money for leasing their resources.

“We want justice, our share of money because we are thinking about our future generations,” he said.

“This has been an ongoing issue for many years and imagine how much time the previous Governments have taken to resolve it.”

Once the problem is resolved then only the landowners willcontinue with normal water supply.

Samandaram Goundar (middle) with Year Nine student of Nadogo Central College Solomone Catarogo and owner of Nadogo Minimart Asisla Devi on their way to fetch water from a drain in Nadogo on September 13, 2023. Photo: Shratika Naidu

WAF response 

WAF confirmed that it has been working with iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) since the issue surfaced.

In an email response yesterday, it stated that the process involved negotiation, agreement to lease and survey, therefore completing a lease agreement is protracted one and can often take time as number of stakeholders are involved.

Since the Water Supply Department (WSD) was under Public Works Department (PWD), the reservoir, pipe easement and dam were already leased.

However, the water catchment area to the dam is confirmed not being leased lately.

In the interim, water carting trucks had been engaged to supply water to the 206 customers who were benefitting from the Wainikoro system.

Teams have also supplied tanks where required for filling and use by the impacted customers.

Discussions with landowners on the issue had been conducted from past years but more frequent this year including TLTB, officers from the Commissioners Northern Office and the provincial office.

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