Villagers in Navunikabi, Namosi, united this past Saturday in a peaceful protest against a proposed hydro dam project led by the Electricity Fiji Limited (EFL), expressing their firm opposition to the development. Approximately 100 residents, spanning generations, gathered near the potential dam site, holding banners and placards that stated their collective stance: “We say no to a hydro dam.”
The villagers voiced their discontent not with the concept of development itself, but with the lack of proper consultation and the misrepresentation of their views regarding the project. The $200 million hydro initiative is planned for three locations: Wainikoroiluva, Wainikovu, and Waivaka, impacting both Namosi and Naitasiri provinces, and is believed to be championed by Tui Namosi, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka had previously acknowledged Ratu Suliano’s role in pursuing new renewable energy sources in inland Namosi in a Facebook post from April 23. Despite a series of consultations involving villagers, the government, and landowners, Navunikabi residents remain steadfast in their opposition. Concerns have even emerged regarding the proposed relocation of their village.
Simione Mekemeke, a member of the Lomani Au Maroroi Au (LAMA) group and a local resident, articulated the widespread fears among villagers about how rising waters from the dam could threaten 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, criticizing the lack of prior consultation before initial studies were conducted.
Environmentally, villagers are worried about how the hydro project could impact local businesses, particularly the Namosi Eco Retreat. Mekemeke warned, “Building a massive hydro dam here would spoil what we already have,” and emphasized their determination to resist any attempts to displace them.
LAMA chairman Sipiriano Nariva echoed these sentiments, stating, “We are here to say no to hydro.” He stressed that the committee, representing many clans in Wainikoroiluva, Namosi, and Waidina in Naitasiri, aims to collaborate with the government to address landowner concerns before any development decisions are made.
Nariva urged authorities to heed the villagers’ fears regarding potential adverse effects on their land and livelihoods. Voices from the community, including 72-year-old Sabeta Seniqumu, highlighted the importance of preserving their cultural heritage, farming practices, and ancestral lands. Despite directives from the chief about possible relocation, residents remain opposed, apprehensive about the uncertainty relocation would introduce to their lives.
Others, like Mareta Nayadi, emphasized their reliance on local resources for sustenance and questioned the necessity of the dams when they currently have electricity access. Such sentiments were mirrored by 79-year-old Makitalena Nayara, who firmly opposed the project’s progression.
Meanwhile, Namosi Provincial Council chair Ratu Iowane Matanitobua stated that the dam project is still in the feasibility stage, with no definitive plans currently established. Data collection is ongoing before the proposal is presented to villagers again. Attempts to obtain comments from Tui Namosi Ratu Suliano Matanitobua and EFL CEO Hasmukh Patel, who is traveling abroad, were not successful.