Mali still waiting after 20 years for promised seawall

A Macuata chief is frustrated over what he described as decades of government inaction on a seawall project to protect villages threatened by coastal erosion and rising sea levels.

Tui Mali, Ratu Apenisa Bogiso said successive governments had made little progress in addressing coastal inundation affecting the three villages of Nakawaqa, Vesi and Ligaulevu on Mali Island.

"The request for a seawall to be constructed has been made to government and we are still waiting for two decades now for an answer to our plight," he said.

"Every year we are assured by government that our seawall will be constructed, but nothing seems to be undertaken."

Coastal inundation, the flooding of normally dry land by seawater, has increasingly affected the island's coastline and communities.

Nakawaqa Village spokesperson Henry Koliniwai said years of delays had left villagers vulnerable to the growing impacts of climate change.

He said saltwater intrusion had damaged vegetation, reducing crop and vegetable production and creating food security concerns.

Mr Koliniwai said rising tides continued to erode the coastline.

"A barrier is needed and this is the seawall," he said, adding that villagers had been requesting the project for more than a decade.

He said stronger climate adaptation measures were urgently needed to protect the island.

"Climate change is real and we are facing its negative effect with the washing of our coastline."

Mr Koliniwai said root crops and vegetables had repeatedly been washed away or damaged by saltwater flooding.

Nakawaqa is home to more than 100 residents, while more than 300 people live across Mali Island.

He also encouraged young people to become more involved in protecting their communities from the impacts of climate change.

Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Mosese Bulitavu, said maritime communities need to be assisted with climate resilient infrastructure. 

During his tenure while holding the ministry of environment portfolio, Mr Bulitavu, added the seawall requested at Nakawaqa village on Mali Island was part of the nature-based seawall project list.