Residents of Navunikabi Village in Namosi held a peaceful protest on Saturday, voicing their opposition to the proposed EFL hydro dam project. Nearly 100 villagers, young and old, gathered at the proposed dam site, carrying banners and placards that clearly stated, “We say no to a hydro dam.”
While the villagers expressed support for development, they criticized the lack of proper consultation and the misrepresentation of their views regarding the project. The $200 million hydro project aims to develop three sites—Wainikoroiluva, Wainikovu, and Waivaka—that span both Namosi and Naitasiri provinces. Tui Namosi, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, is believed to be leading the initiative.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka earlier acknowledged Ratu Suliano’s vital role in seeking new renewable energy sources from inland Namosi in a Facebook post. Despite multiple consultations involving villagers, government representatives, chiefs, and landowners, the community remains resolute in its stance against the project, including proposals to relocate the village.
Simione Mekemeke, a member of the Lomani Au Maroroi Au group, articulated the concerns of many villagers. Although some residents support the hydro project, a significant number fear that rising waters could inundate their homes. “Our forefathers are buried here, and we have built our lives in this village. Relocation is not an option for us,” he asserted. Mekemeke also criticized the process of informing villagers about the project, noting that initial studies were conducted without proper engagement.
The villagers are particularly worried about the environmental consequences the hydro dam could have on their local businesses, including the Namosi Eco Retreat. “Building a massive hydro dam here would spoil what we already have,” he warned, emphasizing their determination to resist any attempts to relocate them.
Sipiriano Nariva, chairman of the landowners committee, echoed the protest’s message, stating, “We are here to say no to hydro.” His committee comprises multiple clans in the Wainikoroiluva district of Namosi and Naitasiri. Nariva urged the government and stakeholders to heed the landowners’ concerns and respect their wishes, which are steeped in fears of negative impacts on their land and livelihood.
Residents like 72-year-old Sabeta Seniqumu expressed profound apprehension regarding the suggested relocation to facilitate the hydro project. She stressed the need to maintain their village’s cultural heritage, agricultural practices, and ancestral land. Despite the chief’s directive on potential relocation, villagers are determined to resist, valuing their traditional roots.
Mareta Nayadi, aged 60, who has lived her entire life in Navunikabi, emphasized the community’s reliance on natural resources for sustenance and questioned the necessity of the dams given their current access to electricity. Similarly, 79-year-old Makitalena Nayara voiced her total opposition to the project.
Namosi Provincial Council chair Ratu Iowane Matanitobua clarified that the project is still in the feasibility study stage, with data collection ongoing before plans are presented to the villagers. Attempts to reach Tui Namosi Ratu Suliano Matanitobua and EFL CEO Hasmukh Patel for comments were unsuccessful, as they were unavailable for response.