Descendants of the original inhabitants of Munia Island in Vanuabalavu, Lau, are still dealing with the financial burden of regaining their land, which was sold for $400 as freehold to an American. The island, measuring approximately 5.3 kilometers in size with a coastline of 10 kilometers, was first settled by the ancestors of the current residents of Avea Island.
More than 200 years ago, the forebears of the Avea villagers were forcibly removed from Munia due to a transaction between the Tui Cakau, Ratu Galea, and the American buyer. During a recent visit to Avea Island, village headman Etuate Umu discussed their ongoing struggles to pay the government $450,000 for full ownership of Munia. The government acquired Munia in 1983 for the same amount and later sold it back to its original people.
As part of a Land Buy Back Scheme agreement in 1989, the Munia people were to pay off the $450,000 over 30 years through annual installments of $15,000. However, Mr. Umu explained that they only managed to pay $30,000 over the first two years. Although they requested a reduction in annual payments, which the government lowered to $7,000 and later to $3,000, the villagers still struggled to keep up with the payments.
At 69 years old, Mr. Umu pointed out that many villagers lack a stable income, even from the copra industry, making it difficult to meet repayment obligations. Over the 30-year period, the villagers have managed to pay $225,000 of the installment.
Mr. Umu recalled the difficulties faced by elders who attended Mavana Primary School and had to depend on relatives from the village of Mavana, located on the mainland of Vanuabalavu about 45 minutes by boat from Avea. This dependence hindered their access to further education, preventing them from obtaining better-paying jobs.
He stated that the government’s decision to return their island through resale for nearly half a million dollars became a heavy burden. He emphasized that without sufficient repayment, the island could again be taken away from them.
As the village headman for his third term, Mr. Umu is hopeful that the remaining $225,000 can be paid off by December this year. Each of the four mataqali (clans) on the island is expected to contribute $25,000, with each working resident of Avea Island living outside needing to provide $1,000 by the set deadline.
The four clans involved are Marama, Nakie, Narocake, and Saweilau. Mr. Umu mentioned that funds they have saved and invested in a trust fund would help cover the outstanding balance. Additionally, some villagers plan to move back to the island once the payment is finalized, while others may remain on Avea but work on Munia.
It is expected that after the payment is completed, Munia will be transferred to the trustees, represented by the four clans, in freehold status. Should the trustees fail to meet their payment obligations, the minister has the authority to revoke the agreement, and all funds paid would be forfeited to the government. The Freehold Buyback Scheme was established in 1989 to facilitate the repurchase of ancestral lands that had been alienated.
The 118 villagers residing on Avea Island are descendants of early migrations from Vuna, Taveuni. Mr. Umu recounted that his ancestors sailed from Vuna to Munia, eventually selecting a piece of land known as ‘Marama’ for their settlement. The second wave of migration occurred around the 1860s, when his forefathers returned to Taveuni to fight in tribal wars. During this time, Ratu Galea sold Munia Island for foreign occupation.
With the sale of Munia, some villagers were still residing on the island, and when the newcomers began settling, they resorted to swimming to the mainland for safety. Eventually, Ratu Qoriniasi brought the elders to Avea Island, which was initially developed as a piggery farm.
Mr. Umu, who was born in 1955, remembers working for foreign occupiers on Munia until the 1970s. Upon the return of the island, he noted other than the land itself, virtually nothing remained.
Now, the voices of the Munia people living on Avea resonate through Fiji, supported by three local bands: Cagi ni Delaiyatova, Voqa kei Waitadralagi, Voqa kei Munia, along with their gospel group, Dakui Yaveya Gospel.