Work has begun on the relocation of the villagers of Nabavatu in Macuata to their new village location of Nadoiviri nearby.
In Parliament today, Disaster Management Minsiter Sakiusa Ditoka said that the work which is being categorised into phases has completed the first one and is now onto the second and third which involves the procurement of construction companies to carry out the building of homes.
“Phases 2 & 3 mostly involves construction works, this activity has been tendered through the Fiji Procurement Office. Tender reference RFT 49/2024 was advertised on the 23rd March 2024.”
“A 30 days tender which invites all registered construction companies to bid for the activity as Design & Build works for 37 houses, communal septic tank, footbridge and connecting footpaths. This tender process is expected to be completed by May 2024.”
Ditoka added that the landowning unit has also made arrangements for the logging of timber which is to be used.
“The Mataqali Uluitoga, with the support of Government agencies in the Northern Division, has made arrangements with Gold Hold Pte Limited to log the timber from their land.
“These timber will be processed and Gold Hold Pte Limited will reimburse the value of the timber by supplying building materials for the Nabavatu community hall in the new village site, which will also serve as an Evacuation Centre.”
In January 2021, after Tropical Cyclone Ana, Nabavatu suffered another geohazard disaster which buried houses, split buildings into two and left people homeless. Ever since then, some members of villagers have been living in make shift tents and clapboard homes.
