The descendants of the original inhabitants of Munia Island in Vanuabalavu, Lau, are still facing challenges in their effort to reclaim their land, which was sold to an American for just $400. Munia Island, which is approximately 5.3 kilometers long with a 10-kilometer coastline, was originally settled by the ancestors of the current residents of Avea Island.
More than two centuries ago, the forefathers of the Avea villagers were forcibly removed from Munia due to an agreement made between Ratu Galea, the Tui Cakau at the time, and the American buyer. During a recent visit to Avea Island, village headman Etuate Umu shared the ongoing struggle to pay the government $450,000 to reclaim complete ownership of Munia.
The government purchased Munia in 1983 for $450,000 and later resold it to the Munia people. Under the terms of the Land Buy Back Scheme established in 1989, the villagers were supposed to pay off the $450,000 over 30 years, making annual payments of $15,000. However, due to financial difficulties, they have only managed to pay $30,000 in the first two years.
Initially, the government reduced the yearly payment to $7,000, and later to $3,000, but the villagers still struggled to meet these obligations. Mr. Umu, who is 69 years old, reported that many villagers lack a consistent source of income, exacerbated by their reliance on the volatile copra industry.
Over three decades, the villagers have only managed to pay a total of $225,000. “The elders living on Avea today attended Mavana Primary School and relied on family members in Mavana, which created a burden for those we stayed with,” he explained. Mavana is located on the mainland of Vanuabalavu, about a 45-minute boat ride from Avea.
Mr. Umu recalled that children were sent to live in Mavana to attend school at the age of six, which hindered their educational opportunities and ability to secure well-paying jobs in the future. The financial burden imposed by the government in reselling their island for nearly half a million dollars has been overwhelming.
Currently, Mr. Umu is hopeful of accumulating the remaining $225,000 needed for payment by December this year. Each of the four clans on the island—Marama, Nakie, Narocake, and Saweilau—are expected to contribute $25,000, with each working individual from Avea who resides off the island asked to contribute $1,000.
Some villagers plan to relocate back to Munia once the payment is made, although there are also discussions about managing Munia as a state, with residents working on the island while living in Avea. Once the payment is completed, the land will be transferred back to the trustees of the four clans in freehold status. It is crucial that the trustees meet their payment commitments, as failure to do so could result in the minister rescinding the agreement, leading to forfeiture of all payments made.
The Freehold Buyback Scheme was established in 1989 to help repurchase ancestral land that had been sold as freehold.
The 118 villagers residing on Avea Island are the descendants of early migrations from Vuna, Taveuni. Mr. Umu recounted how his ancestors initially settled on Munia after traversing the seas and established homes in various locations on the island, including one area they named ‘Marama.’ Migration waves continued until the 1860s when conflicts in Taveuni caused the Tui Cakau to sell Munia Island to foreigners.
Some of the original inhabitants were still living on Munia at the time of the sale, and they faced intimidation from the new occupants. With the sound of gunfire frightening them, they chose to swim to the mainland of Vanuabalavu for safety before eventually settling on Avea Island.
Mr. Umu, now reflecting on his experiences, recalls working for the foreigners on Munia Island during the 1970s. He noted that when the island was returned to the locals, it was in a state of neglect, with little remaining. Today, the voices of the Munia people are vibrant and heard throughout Fiji, expressed through local bands and their gospel music.