Traditional leaders recently gathered for the inaugural Vanua o Nalolo Council of Chiefs meeting at the Fiji Marriott Momi Bay Resort to initiate $300,000 in development projects. The event has been hailed as a significant and emotional milestone, according to Sitiveni Nawaqa, president of the Viti Indigenous Tourism Alliance.
Nawaqa emphasized the importance of this meeting, which focused on distributing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on December 22, 2025. The meeting brought together representatives from six villages and six yavusa (clans) to discuss the allocation of funds earmarked for community development and education. This assembly marks the first concerted effort to strategize future initiatives.
The allocated funds will support various projects across the six villages within the Vanua o Nalolo, each determined based on community needs. The partnership with the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) underscores a collective commitment to enhancing local life. FNPF investment analyst Ratu Isoa Makutu presented on the MOU, highlighting that the agreement promises $1.02 million over three years for community-based projects and sustainable opportunities for resource owners.
Ratu Isoa noted that the MOU prioritizes land-owning units for commercial opportunities contingent upon compliance with specified standards. He also addressed the importance of managing competing interests among landowning units to minimize potential disputes regarding business opportunities affiliated with the resort.
Potential business ventures include land and sea transportation, local produce supply, entertainment through cultural performances, village and historic site tours, handicraft market stalls, nanny services, as well as horse riding and water sports activities.
The six villages benefiting from these initiatives include Lomawai, Tau, Kubuna, Nakorokula, Bavu, and Navutu, located in Tikina Wai within the Nadroga/Navosa province. This collaborative effort symbolizes hope and potential for sustainable development, promising to uplift local communities and foster a spirit of unity and progress in the region.