26 March 2019

Villagers from three villages in Namosi have stood their ground and voiced their oppotition to plants to build a dam in the vicinity of their villages.

...[V]illagers disagreed with a statement...that board officials held 41 consultations in 18 villages on the project.

Navunikabi Village liuliu-ni-koro (village leader) Rokowai Nikola said..."We have only had four counsulations. On the 4th consulation we walked out and protested....

"The first time they came they told us that the distance from the dam to the village was 3km and the second consultation they said it was 2km. However, some men from the village went to measure the distance and was 1.8km.

"...We don't have anything against the development in Namosi, but we don't agree with the location. We don't want the dam because we will be affected. There is a possibility of flooding."

Waivaka Village landowner Petero Leveni said..."During the meeting in Navua we were shown the EIA report, but it was about 300 pages. They must undertand that we will not be able to read all of them and it is in English...."