Three Communities Hit By Climate Change Empowered By EU Workshop

Three communities in Caka­udrove affected by climate change have been empow­ered after a three days compara­tive learning and policy advocacy workshop.

Thirty representatives from Navi­avia Settlement, Vunisavisavi Set­tlement and Vunidogoloa Village gathered at this workshop funded by European Union and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade- New Zealand (MFAT).

They all voiced their concerns and recommendations before the Tran­scend Oceania and Conciliation Resources’ facilitators and chief guests at Wasawasa conference room of Namale Resort in Savusa­vu on Friday.

They were Divisional Planning officer Northern Setareki Dakui­boca, senior development adviser of climate change from New Zea­land High Commission Krishniel Narayan and representative from European Union Pacific head of section civil society, gender, human rights, health development and co-operation unit Pedro Velazquez.

Vunidogoloa Village

Vunidogoloa Village headman Penioni Soqovata said they relocat­ed to a new place in 2014.

“Due to sea level rise our old vil­lage located near the sea used to get flooded,” Mr Soqovata said.

“So Government assisted us to re­locate closer to the road at a higher ground, but we have been facing few challenges.”

He said poor road conditions caused a number of pregnant wom­en to deliver on the way.

“During bad weather, vehicles can’t enter the village so children go to school late or miss out school,” he said.

“We have very poor network so university students have to go to Savusavu Town to access internet.”

Naviavia Settlement

Naviavia Settlement consists of Solomon Islanders who stay on 300 acre land given by the Anglican Church.

Naviavia Settlement headman Marika Sade said their biggest fear was there was no documenta­tion that the place where 256 people were living had rights to the land.

“We are worried as the Kiribati Government bought 5000 acres of land and within this land area we are residing in the middle,” Mr Sade said.

“We don’t know when the people from Kiribati come, whether we can continue to live on the land or not,” Mr Sade said.

“Secondly for over two decades we have been fighting for our identity.”

He said when they filled forms they were told to tick under others and not Fijians.

“Sometimes we are deprived of es­sential services,” he said.

“We hope this denial of services in this country will stop after all we have lived much longer here.”

Vunisavisavi Village

For Vunisavisavi Village, head­man Aisake Lovobalavu said even if they wanted to relocate, they couldn’t because of their tradition­al duties.

“The late Tui Cakau sent my great grandparents from Somosomo, Taveuni to this village and told them to stay there and look after the ‘lalagavesi’ (sacred ground of Tui Cakau),” Mr Lovobalavu said.

“There are 14 households and now whenever there is high tide, the sea­water comes in the village.”

He said even the vehicle drivers do not want to drive to the village because they fear seawater and muddy land.

“Even during emergencies no one wants to drive to the village and im­agine how pregnant women, chil­dren and elderly suffer,” he said.

“We had requested for a seawall and foot crossing to the Govern­ment, but nothing has been done.”

EU on climate change

Meanwhile, one of the chief guests, European Union for the Pa­cific head of section civil society, gender, human rights, health devel­opment and co-operation unit Pe­dro Velazquez said climate change was and has been a top priority for the EU.

“We know that the Pacific island states are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and that the livelihoods of people who depend on natural re­sources are constantly at risk,” Mr Velazquez said.

“I would like to congratulate all the community representatives for your courage to come to this meet­ing and engage in this dialogue.”

He told the 30 participants that their concerns and needs matter and expressing them was the first step in helping their communities to advance.

Transcend Oceania executive director Adi Vasulevu Levu said they’ve partnered with Concilia­tion Resources to conduct the work­shop and engage in partnership with these communities that are affected by climate change.

The project is called Strengthen­ing the Roles of Civil Society and Climate Change and Justpeace Communities in Fiji.

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