Residents of Cikobia Island are eagerly anticipating improvements to their water supply and enhanced transportation services following a productive tikina meeting, as reported on May 1, 1996, by The Fiji Times. The meeting addressed critical issues affecting the island, including the inadequate water supply, transport challenges, and a pressing appeal for government aid to enhance housing conditions.
The island, which hosts four villages—Vatulele, Nautovata, Vuninuku, and Natovutovu—relies on a single water catchment for its water needs. Access to Cikobia is limited to boat travel, making communication and transport particularly challenging for its residents. During the meeting, District Officer Macuata Ratu Orisi Baleitavea announced that a new 40-foot boat, designed to carry up to 22 passengers and equipped with essential navigation and communication tools, would soon be handed over to the island’s elders.
Reverend Laiakini Saula of the Methodist Church expressed the community’s optimism, stating, “It (the boat) will make a big difference to our lives.” The new vessel will facilitate reliable monthly grocery deliveries, improve communication by enabling residents to send letters, and ensure easier transportation for students studying on the larger islands of Viti Levu or Vanua Levu, particularly during school holidays. Additionally, the boat will help local community members participate more actively in religious activities across the district.
The construction of the vessel took five months, with a total cost of $70,000. The community contributed a deposit of $4,500, while the remaining funds came from the Methodist Church and the Ministry of Regional Development.
Alongside the transportation improvements, Ratu Orisi assured residents that the government is committed to enhancing the island’s water supply system, which currently faces significant shortages due to its reliance on a single catchment. He also emphasized the need for better housing on the island, which has fallen behind in development. A rural housing scheme, aiming to assist residents through a self-help and small-grant approach, is on the horizon.
This proactive engagement from both the community and government reflects a hopeful future for Cikobia, promising to uplift living conditions and connectivity for its residents.