Navunikabi Villagers Protest Hydro Dam Project

Villagers of Navunikabi, in the highlands of Namosi, gathered outside the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday to protest and show their concern against the proposed Wainikoroiluva Hydro Dam project.

About 100 villagers with a unified stance, presented a letter to the Government and the Electricity Fiji Limited (EFL), demanding they halt the construction of the dam.

The letter highlights the villagers’ concern about the project’s potential impact on their culture, environment, and daily lives. Village chairman Sipirano Nariva expressed the community’s frustration over their attempts to engage with EFL and the Australian Embassy.

He claimed their efforts to raise their concerns had been met with dismissive responses, with officials redirecting them to lower-level representatives instead of engaging directly with the senior stakeholders responsible for the project.

“This approach has left us feeling unheard and undervalued. The concerns we’ve raised are serious, this project threatens our ancestral lands, our cultural heritage, and the environment we rely on.”

Wainikoroiluva River 

The Wainikoroiluva River, which flows near the village, is an important resource for the people of Navunikabi.

Any disruption to the river could have dire consequences for villagers‘ livelihoods. Villagers fear that the construction of the dam could lead to increased flooding, environmental damage, and the loss of a key resource.

“It is disheartening to see EFL and the Australian Embassy avoided direct engagement with us. We expected transparency and respect, but instead, we feel sidelined. This is not the partnership we hoped for,” Mr Nariva said.

“The villagers were also surprised by this lack of engagement, as previous meetings with stakeholders had been more open and constructive.

“This shift in approach has eroded our trust, it raises serious questions about the sincerity of their commitment to inclusive and respectful dialogue.”

As the opposition to the hydro dam project grows, the people of Navunikabi continue to call for their voices to be heard by those in power.

Feedback: sosiveta.korobiau@fijisun.com.fj