4200 still without water in Southern Taveuni

More than 4200 residents on the southern side of Taveuni have been without a reliable water supply for more than a decade.

Entrepreneur and environmentalist Abi Sapra said repeated appeals to successive governments had failed to deliver results.

The founder of Vuna Enterprises (Fiji) Ltd said communities across southern Taveuni continued to struggle to access clean water despite years of complaints, studies and promises of assistance.

“For more than 10 years, more than 4200 people have had no reliable water supply,” Mr Sapra said.

“We’ve written letters, submitted reports, met officials and provided evidence, but we still don’t know when this problem will be resolved.”

Mr Sapra said residents had been forced to find alternative sources of water while waiting for Government intervention.

“We are fortunate because a neighbouring estate allows us access to water from its property, but thousands of others do not have that option,” he said.

“Even the largest village on the southern side of Taveuni, Navakawau, continues to face water challenges.”

Mr Sapra said international humanitarian organisation IsraAID conducted surveys and assessments in the area after Tropical Cyclone Winston, with recommendations later submitted to Government authorities.

“The surveys were done, the reports were prepared and all the information was forwarded to the relevant ministries,” he said.

“We have been told funding exists and plans have been approved, but nobody is communicating with the people who are directly affected.”

Beyond water shortages, Mr Sapra said many residents also faced unreliable electricity services and poor telecommunications coverage.

He said rural communities such as those on Taveuni were being overlooked in national development plans.

“We feel forgotten,” he said.

“The Government talks about development, but people here are still struggling to access basic services that many Fijians take for granted.”

Mr Sapra also criticised the lack of consultation with rural residents during the Constitutional Review Commission process, saying many people were unaware consultations were taking place until meetings had already begun.

“The majority of people in these communities do not have reliable internet access and cannot simply participate through online platforms,” he said.

“Meaningful consultation means coming to the people and listening to them.”

Mr Sapra, whose family has lived on Taveuni for more than 150 years, said residents were growing frustrated with politicians who visited communities during election campaigns but failed to return afterwards.

“People come here asking for votes, making promises and talking about change,” he said.

“After elections, we do not see them. We do not hear from them. Meanwhile, thousands of people are still waiting for water.”

Mr Sapra said the ongoing lack of basic services raised serious questions about whether rural and maritime communities were receiving fair treatment.

“We are not asking for special treatment,” he said.

“We are asking for clean water, reliable services and for our voices to be heard.”

Attempts to obtain comment from the Minister for Infrastructure were unsuccessful before publication in the Fiji Sun newspaper.