RESETTLEMENT PLAN NABOUWALU ROAD. Draft Supplementary Appendix to the Report and Recommendation of the President to the Board of Directors.

Transcription

1 RESETTLEMENT PLAN NABOUWALU ROAD Draft Supplementary Appendix to the Report and Recommendation of the President to the Board of Directors on the FOURTH ROAD UPGRADING (SECTOR) PROJECT REPUBLIC OF THE FIJI ISLANDS This Report was prepared by the Borrower and is not an ADB document September 2005

2 1 A. Background SHORT LAND ACQUISITION AND RESETTLEMENT PLAN: NABOUWALU ROAD 1. The Nabouwalu Road is a core FRUPIV sub-project. Upgrading will promote social and economic development and reduce the poverty and isolation of disadvantaged groups. The project will lower travel costs, reduce journey times and contribute to commercial, employment and income generation activities. The road is also one of the few remaining strategic links in the national network that has yet to be sealed. It is part of the connection to the shorter of two sea crossing points from Vanua Levu to Viti Levu. Nabouwalu is an important ro-ro ferry terminal. 2. The project will be financed under an ADB loan with counterpart funding from the Government of Fiji. 3. This Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan has been prepared on the basis of the following legal and policy requirements: (i) the State Acquisition of Lands Act (SALA) of Fiji (Chapter 135 of Laws of Fiji); (ii) the ADB Operations Manuals: Bank Policies: Involuntary Resettlement (F2/BP) and Operational Procedures): Involuntary Resettlement (F2/OP) and (iii) the ADB Handbook on Resettlement: A Guide to Good Practice; and (iv) the Resettlement Framework in Appendix 15. B. Description of the Project and Scope 4. The study section of the Nabouwalu Road commences 200 metres south of the Dreketi Health Centre (designated chainage 0.00) and ends at the junction to the Nabouwalu ferry jetty at chainage at km. The improved road will be 68.9 km. 5. The topography of the country from Dreketi to the west side of the Lekutu River (km 0 to 30) is gently rolling, becoming flat where the major valleys are crossed. A section of steeply rolling to hilly terrain is present between the Lekutu Valley and Bua (km 30-45) on the west coast. Then the coastal road from Bua to Nabouwalu (km 45-69) is once again gently rolling. 6. The project is located in the middle rainfall zone of Vanua Levu, with a mean annual rainfall of 2,600 mm. The climate of the area is characterised by a dry season from May through to December. 7. The Nabouwalu Road is the sole arterial road for the districts of Bua and Vuya in Bua Province and all inhabitants of these districts are more or less dependent on the road. The road also connects Labasa with the port of Nabouwalu from which goods, vehicles and people are transported between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The road is subjected to commercial vehicle loading. It serves areas of forestry and farming. 8. The landscape surrounding the upgrade area consists mostly of pasture land, pine forest, and degraded grasslands. There are also some small areas of mature vegetation and of mangrove directly adjacent to the road. According to discussions with the Department of Agriculture 1, the soils are predominantly classified as marginal. Areas of fertile soil are readily identified because of the presence of agriculture or gardening. Agriculture is small scale and without significant intensification. The communities subsist off their crops as well as selling a 1 Pers. Comm. Atish Prasad, Land Classification Unit, Department of Agriculture, Nabua, 3 August 2005.

3 2 portion of them. Approximately 90% of both Fijian and Indo-Fijian interviewees reported that most of their food was home grown. 9. Resettlement impacts will be confined to those associated with the acquisition of an about 3.0 metre strip on either side of the existing Right-of-Way and with minor realignments to accommodate improved safety. The upgraded road will be 7.3 metres wide with two 1.5 metre shoulders. The rehabilitated horizontal and vertical road alignment will, however, closely follow the existing alignment. There will consequently also be a requirement for compensation for the loss of crops and trees. It will be possible to avoid all resettlement and the destruction of primary 2 structures. However, a provision for unanticipated lost structures of various types is included should there be unforeseen impacts in any sub-project. For the same reason, also included in the entitlement matrix is a general category unanticipated impact. C. Rights of Way and Impacts 10. Resettlement impacts and compensation needs of potentially Affected Persons (APs) were assessed by survey along both sides of the ROW. It has not yet been finally determined which side of the ROW will be most affected. The planned widening and alignment works will result in the need to acquire about 54 ha. 11. The survey, which was simultaneous with the detailed social analysis and socioeconomic impact surveys, also assessed public reactions to the project in terms of positive and negative impacts. Land ownership was established using plans provided by the Department of Lands and Survey (DLS). Plot by plot results are shown on Attachment 1 owners names and the uses made of individual plots have, however, not yet been established, but information is now being sought from the DLS and will be available by the time of Appraisal and provided as Attachment 2. There are many small residences and farmed properties that abut the road. Villages and settlements, however, lie behind the road and often behind hills, rivers and the first belt of cultivated lands. 12. On the two sides of the 69 km road there are presently: (i) 35 native blocks, (ii) 4 native Schedule A 3 blocks; and (iii) 38 freehold blocks. 13. Two villages, 11 settlements (including a number of stores) and a number of small residences and farmed properties lie close to the road. In a number of locations, rice paddies or small crops of pineapple, coconut, root crops or other local produce are directly adjacent to the ROW. There are also (i) five schools; (ii) three temples/mosques; and (iii) the Bua Health Centre with premises alongside, albeit set-back from the edge of the ROW. The premises of this latter institution come closest to the edge of the ROW and are about five APs from the edge of the existing road. In a number of locations, telephone poles are located directly alongside the road (kms 52.4; 62.2 and 66.5) and in some cases poles have fallen (km 66.5). There are three locations where graves are found alongside the road (km 28.7; 67.8 and 53.8). There are also three instances where residences sit opposite each other or opposite small plantations or areas of mangrove and where parts of the house plot, though not the structures may need to be acquired (kms 42.1, 43, and 67). 2 Primary structures are considered to be buildings used as residences, shops, buildings with community purposes (schools, clinics, churches, mosques or temples) and those used as principal places of work. Secondary structures are considered to be sheds, animal pens, out-houses, fences etc.. 3 Schedule A land is land whose mataqali have become extinct and is under state property until custody can be properly allocated.

4 3 14. Nine other schools are located within two kilometers of the road. Ten other settlements and 11 villages lie between 0.5 and two kilometers from the road and three more villages lie within 18 km of the road (see Attachment 3). 15. The upgraded road will be able to avoid all the relocation of all primary structures though there may be the need to relocate out-houses, sheds and fences. When primary structures come close to the road edge there is undeveloped land of low agricultural value opposite. Areas that will require particular attention during the detailed design phase, but where problems can be avoided, include the previously mentioned five schools which have the edges of their playgrounds some 5 to 10 metres beyond the edge of the existing road. These schools already complain of flying stones and dust posing a health and safety risk to students and staff. Detailed design will need to factor in the required distance between a major road and school playground and/or provide safety features, typically speed controlling narrowing, humps and barriers. If land is acquired, replacement land contiguous with the existing school premises will also have to be provided. This should not however be a problem. 16. In the area around the Bua Central College school where the edge of the playground comes to within 5 to 10 metres of the edge of the road there are also structures opposite though these are again some 5 to 10 metres from the opposite road edge. While there is sufficient space for the widened road, there will, in this case, be a need for the aforementioned proper speed control measures. Barriers will also be required alongside the school premises. The grounds of the Wainisevu Methodist Circuit School (km 68.4) also begin some 5-10 metres from the edge of the existing road. In this case, there are foreshore mangroves on the opposite side. In order to avoid the mangroves, this 5-10 AP strip may, thus, be required, bringing the edge of the school premises close to the upgraded road. This is again not seen as a problem if proper speed control measures are introduced and barriers are erected alongside the school premises. The Waibunabuna Primary school where the edge of the playground comes to within 5 to 10 APs of the edge of the road also faces a house and small cemetery (chainage 28.7 km), though the edges of these premises are again all set back 5 to 10 APs. While there is sufficient space for the widened road, there will, in this case, again be a need for the aforementioned proper speed control measures. Barriers will also be required alongside the school premises. Finally, the Lekutu Secondary School has a small plantation opposite it, now used with informal permission from the Mataqali which owns the land, that the teachers use to plant subsistence crops (chainage 23.9 km). This land will need to be replaced, but in this case not necessarily with a plot contiguous with the existing school premises. 17. Other properties where the alignment will need to be adjusted and where similar treatments to those described above will be required include: (i) the Nasarowaqa Postal Agency and store (chainage 13.9 km) which is about 5.0 APs away from the existing edge of the road (and which has a river and mangroves directly behind it). The agency faces a small hill with an unlisted, but locally recognised, archaeological site of potential significance at its summit a widened road is clearly feasible but in order to protect the users of the Agency and to ensure no damage is done to the archaeological site, it will be necessary to provide speed controlling narrowing, humps and barriers and possibly a small retaining wall on the hill-side; (ii) At chainage 67.8 km, there is a graveyard with its edge about 10 metres from the existing edge of the road and on the opposite side, 2-5 metres from the road

5 4 edge, mangroves a widened road is clearly feasible, though barriers will need to be erected to protect visitors to the graveyards. D. Socio-Economic Profile of Affected Households 18. The total population of Bua and Vuya Provinces is over 11,100 (see Table 1). The Nabouwalu Road is the sole main road connector for these people to the rest of Vanua Levu. Table 1 Population and Number of Households of Bua and Vuya Districts, Bua Province (source: 1996 Census) District Pop. Fijian Indo-Fijian Others Total Pop. Pop. Pop. Households Households Households Households Bua 3, , ,621 1,265 Vuya 4, , Total 7,767 1,346 3, ,199 2, Of the above, about 3,693 people live close to the road 4 ; a figure derived from the 1996 census and will thus be directly affected. The breakdown of this population is 2,418 Fijians, 1,252 Indo-Fijians and 23 others living in settlements and villages. These communities cultivate small-scale subsistence and cash crops. Table 2 Population Living Close to the Nabouwalu Road in 1996 Fijian Indo-Fijian Other Directly adjacent to road Within 1-2 km of road (feeder road) 1, Within 5-10 km of road (feeder road) Sub-total population 2,418 1, Total population 3,693 Source: 1996 Census 20. Rice and timber are the main commodities which are exported from the area. The Rewa Rice Mill located at the Dreketi Irrigation Scheme is supplied with rice from approximately 500 farmers. The majority of these farmers live within the surrounding Dreketi Irrigation Scheme, the edge of which comes to within 15 metres of the study road. Other rice farmers arrange for their rice to be milled by small privately-owned mills. Rice produced in the area by Rewa Rice and independent farmers is sold within Vanua Levu at markets and stores. 4 The population is likely to be significantly higher than these figures as they are based on 1996 census data. The general pattern observed in the communities that were consulted as part of this study was that the population had risen significantly. In addition, population figures were not available for 11 of the roadside settlements that were sighted alongside the road and which varied in size from four households to over 30. Population figures were also not available for 11 of the villages and settlements within two kilometres of the road.

6 5 21. Cash crops of other produce are also grown such as fruit and vegetables, local root crops and yaqona (kava) which are also sold locally at roadside stalls and at the Labasa and Nabouwalu municipal markets. In addition, yaqona, dalo (taro) and pineapple crops are sold in markets and to hotels around Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. There are some operations in Bua that are producing yaqona and dalo for export overseas. 22. Fiji Pine Ltd. employs local people through contracts with landowner umbrella companies. This labour is used for planting, maintenance and logging work in the forests. Logs are presently transported by boat from the Nabouwalu Jetty to a Mill at Lautoka. 23. Timber-value pine trees and some crops mainly rice, coconut, pineapple, papaya, dalo (taro), tavioka (cassava), yaqona (kava), and kuta reeds 5 will also be affected. The two sides of the road will be equally affected. 24. The classes of land alongside the study area include native reserve land, NLTB leases, freehold land and state land. Roughly 80% of the land adjacent to the road is native land that is owned by different mataqali. A small proportion of the native land is leased to schools and Indo- Fijian farming settlements 6, these leased areas are estimated to border about 10% of the road. Approximately 20% of the roadside is native land that is leased to Fiji Pine Ltd. and planted with pine forest. Approximately 5% of the road border is freehold land. 25. The survey identified two cases of non-title holders of land and informal sharecroppers living adjacent to the road but no squatters. These non-title holders were at Korokadi and Nasarowaqa settlements. At Nasarowaqa, roughly 25 households of Indo-Fijian farmers informally occupy a Part-European freehold owner s land and with the owner s consent. The estate covers 150 hectares. The owner along with many of his tenants was present at the community consultation and they gave their support to the road upgrade. Another freehold landowner in Nasarowaqa, who was not present at the consultation as he resides in Labasa, has informally subdivided and sold plots to a Seventh Day Adventist Church and to approximately six households that share-farm rice. This property covers half an acre (0.2 ha). At Korokadi Settlement, sixteen families in the area have left their land due to the expiry of their leases and are now living with relatives or on cooperative land. 1. Indo-Fijians 26. Of Indo-Fijians surveyed the average household had six people. 36% reported a total household cash income from all sources of less than F$50 per week; 19% reported a total incomes of F$50-70 per week; 40% reported incomes of between F$100 and 300 per week; and none reported incomes of over F$300 per week (Table 3). The highest total household incomes were reported by farmers that supplemented their farming income with other businesses and paid employment such as: shop-owning, working as mechanics, taxi drivers and school teaching. 27. Indo-Fijians in the area experience poverty differently than Fijian villagers, being those with no land, or not enough land to farm for a living, and no regular wages. Families in this category often have a per capita income of less than US$1.00 per day. An estimated 36% of Indo-Fijians working in the road project area are in this category. 5 Kuta reed in cultivated in freshwater ponds and used for weaving mats. 6 A settlement is defined as a habitation on leased land. A village is habitation on native land.

7 6 2. Fijians 28. Of those Fijians surveyed, the average household had five people. 69% reported a total household cash income from all sources of less than F$50 per week. 22% reported incomes of F$ per week. 6% reported incomes of F$ per week, and 3% reported incomes between F$200 and F$300 per week. None of the sample group reported incomes of over F$300 per week (Table 3). 29. Approximately 69% of Fijians were experiencing hardship 7. This assessment is based on their limited access to cash. These disadvantaged households earn money only intermittently by selling produce and working as casual labour and in order to pay for; clothing; water and electricity bills; school; church; and ceremonial contributions. Table 3 Sources of Household Income: Survey Sample Fijians (number) Fijians (%) Indo-Fijians and Others (number) Indo- Fijians and Others (%) No regular cash income 33 49% 6 7% Farm income only 34 50% 67 81% Farm income plus other 1 1% 10 12% 30. The better-off Fijian and Indo-Fijian households have a wage earner or pensioner in the household. For most Fijian households, the other source of income is working as labourers during the sugar cane harvesting season. For Indo-Fijian households with sources of income besides farming, the sources are more diverse and include: trades, transport, shop keeping, school teaching and seasonal sugar cane-cutting labouring. Table 4: Total Weekly Household Income from all Sources: Survey Sample Fijians (Number) Fijians (%) Indo-Fijians and Others (Number) Indo-Fijians and Others (%) Less than F$50 per week 52 69% F$ per week 16 21% F $ % F$ % 7 17 Over F$ The Indo-Fijian community generally reside on NLTB leases. Most of these are 30-year leases that are due to expire within the next 10 years. In some cases, leases have already expired and households have had to vacate the land. These families have either emigrated or moved to family members leases or cooperative land. A number of households reported that 7 In the context of native Fijians, the term hardship is preferred to the term poor. Almost all native Fijians have access to housing, shelter, food and the benefits of extended family/community support.

8 7 they had been waiting for over a year for final approval from the Native Lands Trust Board of the renewal of their leases. A small proportion of Indo-Fijians and ethnic minorities own freehold land. The great majority of landowners in the area are indigenous Fijians. E. Resettlement Plan Objectives, Policy Framework and Entitlement Matrix 1. Objectives 32. The objective of this Resettlement Plan is to ensure that screening, planning, and management procedures for involuntary resettlement on the sub-project are in compliance with ADB s Operations Manuals: Bank Policies: Involuntary Resettlement (F2/BP) and Operational Procedures: Involuntary Resettlement (F2/OP) and other ADB social safeguards. The loss of assets associated with land acquisition will lead to loss of income and it is this aspect of the resettlement issue that is the focus of this Resettlement Plan. 33. Under ADB policy, any involuntary displacements are required to be addressed via a comprehensive involuntary resettlement and rehabilitation program. These require compensation and resettlement for all categories of adversely affected people irrespective of their legal status. Where the project impact is not considered significant, however, only a short resettlement plan is required. 2. Policy Framework 34. The Policy Framework is provided in Appendix 15. It was derived in accordance with: (i) the State Acquisition of Lands Act (SALA) of Fiji (Chapter 135 of Laws of Fiji); (ii) the ADB Operations Manuals: Bank Policies: Involuntary Resettlement (F2/BP) and Operational Procedures: Involuntary Resettlement (F2/OP) and (iii) the ADB Handbook on Resettlement: A Guide to Good Practice In order that ADB policy may be adhered to it is agreed that resettlement will be in accordance with the Assurance attached to the loan agreement requiring the Government to comply with the provisions of both the SALA and the ADB policy on compensation and involuntary resettlement. 36. Project Planners, taking into consideration ADB s Policy requirements, will also undertake detailed design in such manner as to: (i) minimize land acquisition; (ii) avoid impacts of any significant nature; and (iii) avoid all existing primary structures. 37. During project implementation the Department of National Roads (DNR) will be responsible for sending a plan showing new alignments and estimate of land to be acquired to the DLS, which will then be responsible for the acquisition. The DLS will prepare the detailed Land Acquisition Plans, identifying land-owners and undertaking negotiations to come to agreed values. In the case of native land, the DLS will send the proposal to the NLTB, which will negotiate on behalf of the native land owners. The Mataqali owning the land will, however, have finally to accept or reject NLTB recommendations 8. Land acquisition will be made in the first part in accordance with the provisions of the SALA. Compensation will thus include: (i) compensation for land 9 at fair market value, (ii) compensation for crops and trees, (iii) 8 75% of members must agree. 9 Land can be only acquired if it is intended to be made for public purposes though should some parcels become economically unviable because they are separated from the original body and small, consideration should also be given to their purchase.

9 8 compensation to squatters/sharecroppers; (iv) compensation for secondary structures at full replacement cost and without deduction for salvage; (v) compensation for damage caused during execution, if any; and (v) compensation in regard to any imposed changes in, or restrictions on, use of remaining land following acquisition. In each case, compensation will be divided in a fair and equitable manner between lessee and lessor depending on the present annual rent, the length of the lease left to run; and anticipated lease renewal premium. 38. The additional compensation required by the ADB and not otherwise paid will be: (i) the compensation to non-title holders such as squatters/sharecroppers; (ii) the compensation for any loss of livelihood; (iii) the additional compensation for secondary structures over and above their depreciated value; any (iv) other direct or indirect compensation. This additional compensation, as and when required, will be paid from a Resettlement Budget and will be administered by the Resettlement Unit (RU) of the DNR. In addition, a provision for unanticipated lost structures of various types is included should there be unforeseen impacts. For the same reason, also included in the entitlement matrix is a general category unanticipated impact. 39. The acquisition process will commence with the DNR sending preliminary acquisition requirements to the DLS. The DLS will then be responsible for identifying owners, conducting valuations, negotiating prices, making payments (through the NLTB in the case of native land), and obtaining possession of the land. 40. As the process is contingent upon clear boundary demarcations and successful negotiation and consensus amongst sellers, the DLS and NLTB are required to conduct the negotiation process through continuous dialogues with the land-owners. This is seen as the most expeditious manner to minimize delays. 41. The DNR will not be able to take possession of land as long as the process of price negotiation is incomplete and also will not be able to take possession of leased land without the consent of the lessees. 42. Standard DLS procedure (which will be followed during the project) is to prepare initial valuations using local market prices and data in this regard is obtained from the Land Registrar s office. Finally determined prices, nonetheless, come about through negotiation. For land, 75% of the finally agreed price is paid in advance and 25% on final completion of the measurement process, which occurs after construction is complete. This procedure, whilst contrary to ADB policy has advantages in Fiji see para 45 below. 43. For (secondary) structures, DLS pays 100% of the value (but only the depreciated book value) at the same time as the initial 75% for land. This procedure will be adjusted so that full replacement value is paid. Top-up funds will be paid by the Resettlement Unit (RU) in the DNR. 44. Owners and lessees are compensated for lost income, standing crops, and other losses during construction also at the time of final measurement and at rates set by the Department of Agriculture With the project resettlement issues in mind, the only relevant differences between Government and ADB policy concern: (i) the payment of 75% rather than 100% of agreed 10 In general, efforts are made to minimise crop losses. Farmers will often be allowed to harvest their crops at the proper time and before the land is taken.

10 9 compensation for land prior to the work commencing; (ii) the non-completion of any final transfer of the land to Government until the work is complete; and (iii) the lack of compensation provided to squatters/ sharecroppers. The Government system has, however, in regards to points (i) and (ii), the advantage of allowing easy adjustments during construction to account for remedying cut slope instability, minor cut widening to obtain suitable fill material etc. and will be continued. The lack of compensation paid to squatters/sharecroppers under Government policy will be resolved by the Assurance referred to in para Delays because of the Government system are rare, though occasionally, formal advance acquisition would have prevented a delay 11. On previous projects, the majority of delays in rural areas have been minor (and illegal as the landowner will have given consent to the purchase in writing). If completion of land acquisition procedures prior to contract award is insisted upon, increased delays could, in fact, occur 12. There is a lack of human resource capacity within the DLS. 3. Entitlement Matrix 47. Rapid Rural Participatory Appraisals (RRPA), social analyses and socio-impact assessments of the sub-project areas have been carried out to assess the likely maximum extent of impact on different categories of potentially Project Affected Persons (PAPs). An entitlement matrix has been formulated based on: (i) the results of these analyses and (ii) on the potential impact of the sub-project described in paras 10-17; and (ii) the resettlement framework discussed in Appendix 15. Data derived from the former analyses and assessments have identified the socio-economic profile and status of the people likely to be impacted. A preliminary inventory of losses deriving from comparisons of the preliminary designs with plans supplied by the DLS showing land ownership have also been identified and a request has been made for the DLS to provide lists of the names of owners and leaseholders. These will be available prior to Appraisal and become Attachment 2 to this document. After detailed design, and prior to land acquisition, there will also be a census or inventory of losses, when adjustments to the matrix will be made as required. 48. Potential losses will be confined to land and are categorised on Table 5 below. Table 5 Potential Losses Category Land Types of Loss 1. Agricultural, homestead, commercial, unused and fallow land; 2. Crops and trees 3. Secondary structures (sheds, animal pens, ou-house, fences etc.) 4. Access to forest land (and possibly) fishing places; 5. Traditional use rights; 6. Community or pasture land; 7. Community properties: for example land belonging to schools, community centers, and used for bus stops, markets, health and medical centers etc. 8. Temporary losses as a result of negative environmental impacts during project construction 9. Unanticipated other structures 10. Unanticipated other impacts 11 For example, the Mead Rd roundabout constructed under FRUP2 and still incomplete. 12 The DLS often suffers from backlogs of work - a result of lack of human resource capacity within the organisation.

11 An entitlement matrix for the sub-project is provided as Attachment 3. The matrix has been constructed on the basis of the specific sub-project anticipated impact and will be amended if there is any expansion of impact during design or implementation. F. Consultation Meetings and Stakeholder Participation 50. The field surveys centered on a Rapid Rural Participatory Appraisal (RRPA). Eight focus group meetings of a representative nature two in Indo-Fijian settlements, one in a Fijian Settlement and five in Fijian Villages were conducted. One of the Indo-Fijian settlement focus groups included three participants that belong to an ethnic minority; these were Part-European landholders in Nasarowaqa. 51. In addition, interviews were held with 14 school representatives and written submissions were received from 4 schools. These consultations provided insight into overall public reaction towards the sub-project. 52. The RRPA noted local concerns regarding: whether proper compensation will be provided if the road encroaches onto their properties; some tenants and landowners expressed interest in leasing or sub-leasing part of their land for construction workers camps and the storage of machinery. Other concerns related to social impacts during construction and once the upgraded road is established, these are noted in Attachment 1. All those consulted were in strong support of upgrade and emphasised that they felt that positive effects would outweigh any potential negative impacts. 1. Focus Group Meeting in Nasarowaqa Indian Settlement (27/7/05) Interviewees: Indo-Fijian: 12 women, 4 men Part-European: 1 woman, 2 men Total: 13 women, 6 men 53. Nasarowaqa Settlement is located alongside the road at chainage 14.9 to 15.9 km. Its population is estimated at 300 with 62 households. Approximately seven households have left Nasarowaqa over the last ten years, for other locations in the country. Part of the roadside land is native land owned by the Nasarowaqa village. The rest of the roadside land in the settlement is freehold land owned by two different parties, these are: the Motukobuli Estate owned by the Bull/Williams/Sanadali families and covering 150 ha.; and a ½ acre plot owned by an Indo-Fijian businessman. Roughly 25 households of Indo-Fijian farmers informally occupy the Bull/Williams/Sanadali land with the owners consent. The Bull family along with many of their tenants was present at the community consultation and gave its support to the road upgrade. The other freehold landowner was not present at the consultation. It is understood that he resides in Labasa and has informally subdivided and sold plots of the land to a Seventh Day Adventist Church and to approximately six households that share-farm rice. 54. The main crop in the area is rice followed by pineapples and vegetables. The community subsists off these crops as well as selling a portion of them. There are five privatelyowned general stores, a tyre repair service and two rice mills. These structures are located alongside though set-back from the road. There is no service station or market.

12 Unemployment was identified as a common problem by the community. Approximately 15% of the Indo-Fijian community at Nasarowaqa does seasonal cane-cutting work. The community identified three people as disadvantaged due to old-age and infirmity. Twelve members of the community are receiving welfare benefits. 56. The Nasarowaqa Indian School is located within the settlement and has a roll of 233 students. Children from the settlement also go to Dreketi Secondary School. 57. The settlement has access to a few carriers and approximately vehicles are privately owned. No motorized farm vehicles are used, ploughing is performed using bulls. A bus service stops at the settlement 12 times daily. All members of the community make use of the bus service, most use it every second day, and are satisfied with the service. However, one of the reasons for children are sent to the Dreketi School rather than the Nasarowaqa School is that there is better transport from the former school this is despite the fact that it is about 40 minutes driving distance from the settlement, as opposed to the latter school which is much closer. 58. There is one Muslim temple opposite the Nasarowaqa school and one Christian church alongside, but set-back from the road. 59. The settlement is serviced by the Lekutu Health Centre and Police post. Pregnant women are advised by the medical centre to stay in Labasa if possible so as to be close to the hospital. The community feels that there is a need for a nursing station and police post to be established at Nasarowaqa. 60. There are a few private generators within the community which supply the owners and neighboring households with electricity. Other households are without electricity. Some houses and the school have tap water which comes from a local bore-hole, other households have rainwater collection tanks and others collect their water from the nearby waterway. A few places alongside the road have telephones as does the school, but the majority of the community does not have a phone in their houses or businesses. 2. Focus Group Meeting in Korokadi Indian Settlement (27/7/05) Interviewees: 2 women; 10 men All Indo-Fijian 61. Korokadi Settlement is located 3 kilometres from the road upgrade area at km The advisory councilor for the settlement, Mr Jagdish Kumar, estimates its population at 500 with 120 households. Approximately 200 people have emigrated from Korokadi in the last 10 years due to the expiry of leases or in the pursuit of better living conditions elsewhere. The settlement occupies native land owned by mataqalis based in Votua village). There are approximately 40 to 50 leases, each ranging from four to eight acres (1.7 to 3.3 ha) in size. Many of these leases will expire over the next 8 years. Sixteen families in the area have left their land due to the expiry of their leases and are now living with relatives or on cooperative land. In many cases these families are waiting for final approval of the renewal of their leases from the Native Lands Trust Board which has been slow to come % of the households in Korokadi are commercial rice farmers. There is no general store in the area.

13 The Lekutu Bhartiva Primary School is located 2 kilometres from the main road in Korokadi. It has a roll of 100 students. 64. The bus does not go into the settlement, people have to travel the 3 to 6 kilometres to get to the bus stop. The majority of the community uses private carriers as their primary form of transport to other towns. The community has access to three carriers that operate from the settlement, these are a five-tonne truck and two two-tonne trucks. There are also 12 privately owned vehicles and three tractors in the settlement. 65. There are two Hindu temples and one Muslim mosque located in the settlement. 66. The Community uses the Lekutu Health Centre and Police Post located at Nakadrudru which is 5 kilometres further down the Nabouwalu road. 67. Thirty of the houses in the settlement as well as the school have solar power and the remaining households are scheduled to have solar power installed immanently. This is being provided by the Department of Energy and is funded by Japanese Aid. There are no telephone services in the area. 68. Every household and the school have tap water that is sourced from a bore-hole. The community has a combination of different toilet facilities, the school and some households have flush toilets, while others have water seal or pit toilets. 69. Unemployment was identified as a problem in the settlement and there is a pool of youths and adults that would be interested in employment during the construction of the road. 3. Focus Group Meeting in Votua Village and Boroboro settlement (28/7/05) Interviewees: Indo-Fijian: 7 men Fijian: 5 women, 15 men Total: 5 women, 22 men 70. A public consultation was held at the Lekutu Secondary school. Attendees included staff from the school, representatives from Votua Village which is located a few APs down a feeder road that runs alongside the school and the Boroboro settlement which is a grouping of Indo- Fijian Farmers that lease the land surrounding the village and school. The school is located directly alongside the Nabouwalu Road at chainage 23.9 km. The population of the area is estimated at The village grows its own subsistence crops. Its members earn seasonal income from sugar cane and rice harvesting labour and from fishing. Households in the village earn an approximate average of F$10 per week. The teachers at the secondary school also grow their own food in a plot alongside the road opposite the school. Most of the Fijian and Indo-Fijian community in the area is looking for employment to supplement their subsistence and cash crops. Food shortages are experienced during the dry season. 72. The majority of the land in the area is Native land owned by people of the Tikina Lekutu. The owners are located in the villages of Votua, Tavea, Nawailevu and Baravi. There is a small

14 13 area of freehold land owned by four brothers: Mohd Sazad, Mohd Kasim, Mohd Tahir and Mohd Ali. In Votua village there are 66 households and a meeting hall. 73. Roughly 80% of the youths in the area have over the last five years migrated to urban areas, particularly Suva, after finishing secondary school in search of employment and better living conditions. This migration is particularly prevalent in the Indo-Fijian community. The roll at the Lekutu Secondary School is at an unprecedented low, the principal of the school attributes this to migration of the Indo-Fijian community which makes up roughly half of the student body. 74. There is a district school located in Votua Village and Lekutu Secondary School located alongside Nabouwalu Road and next to the feeder road that leads into the village. The district school has a roll of 109 students. The Secondary school has a roll of 130 students. 75. The main form of transport for most of the people in Votua Village and the surrounding area is the bus service. The bus stops at the bus stop beside the school five times each day. The bus service is considered to be satisfactory. However, the participants hope that the service will improve with the road upgrade. The only bus that travels the one kilometer into Votua village only travels as far as Dreketi. Frequently, students that travel from Bua arrive late to school. The bus service is also unreliable, if the last bus does not arrive, students have to walk home in the dark. There are 15 trucks that provide transport operating from Nakadrudru settlement which is two kilometers further down the Nabouwalu road. Vehicles in the village consist of: one Minibus, one double cab and three tractors. The teachers at the school own eight cars. People also use horses for transport. There is no taxi service available in the area. There is no petrol station in the vicinity but fuel can be bought from the village and shop. Approximately 80% of the students at the secondary school walk up to 10 km to get to school. 76. There is a Muslim mosque located on but set back from the roadside at km 24.6 and a church located in Votua village. 77. There is a police post, health centre, general store and post office in Nakadrudru settlement which is two km from the School and the feeder road to the village. There is a store located in the village. 78. The village has a diesel generator. The school has electricity. There are no telephone lines in the area and no mobile phone reception. 79. The village and school have tap water which is sourced from a spring on the other side of the Nabouwalu Road. The water pipe crosses the road at approximately km The village and farmers use nearby creeks for clothes washing, bathing, and water supply for their crops. Water is also sourced from an operation in Nakadrudru which brings water to the area by van and sells it to the residents. The school has flushing toilets. 80. There are four handicapped people living in Votua village and three very old members of the village that require assistance. There are three handicapped people in the Boroboro settlement. There are 48 unemployed youths residing in Votua village, and a further 23 residing in the nearby freehold land and the Boroboro settlement. 81. There is high interest from all of the occupants in the area in employment during the construction phase of the road, particularly for unemployed youths. According to the participants, the landowners both native and freehold approve of the development; however the

15 14 native land owners wanted reassurance that there would be compensation if the road encroached onto their land. 4. Focus Group Meeting in Naruwai Village (2/8/05) Interviewees: 20 Women, 13 Men All Fijian 82. Naruwai Village is located 2 km off the Nabouwalu Road at km It has a population of approximately 510 with 105 households. The village is located on Native land. The land adjacent to the road nearest to the Naruwai village is owned by Dama Village. 83. The village grows subsistence and cash crops of yaqona (kava), coconut, rice and sugar cane. There is a commercial rice project underway that is supplying rice to Rewa Rice Ltd. There is also a Bakery and Honey project both being implemented by youths in the village. 84. Approximately 80% of the households in the village earn approximately F$15 per week. Approximately 19% of households earn less than F$5 per week, while less than 1% earns F$50 per week. 85. There are around 10 elderly members of the community that are unable to care for themselves. There are also three stroke victims. 12 members of the village receive social welfare. The village has around 100 unemployed youths that would be interested in employment during the construction phase. 86. The Naruwai primary school is located next to the village and its roll of 121 consists entirely of children from the village. The older children attend either the Bua Central College or the Naikavaki Secondary School which are respectively 2 and 3 miles from the village. The development priorities for the village are to upgrade the school and the access road. 87. The villagers feel that the bus service is inadequate, particularly as they have to travel two kilometers to the main road to catch the bus which does not arrive at reliable times. The village also has a three-tonne truck and a privately-owned four-wheel-drive vehicle. 88. There are four churches in the village, each church is dedicated to a different denomination. 89. The village is serviced by the Nabouwalu Health Centre and Police Post which are approximately 12 kilometers away. There is a cooperative store in the village and three privately owned stores. 90. There is no electricity in the village. The villagers use benzene or kerosene lamps. There is one community telephone. 91. The village has tap water from a nearby source, about 50 of the 105 households have their own tap. 40 households have their own flush toilet. 5. Focus Group Meeting held in Wairiki Village (4/8/05) Interviewees:

16 15 10 Female; 5 Male All Fijian 92. Wairiki Village is located 10 APs off the Nabouwalu Road at 59.7 km chainage. The village is located on Native land owned by the Rokowaqa I and Rokowaqa II mataqali. One Indo-Fijian family by the name of Brij Lal lives on village land under an informal arrangement with the land owners. The current population is estimated at 133 with 32 households. According to the Turaga ni Koro and the other participants in the consultation there has been no migration from the village in the last ten years. 93. The villagers grow subsistence crops as well as cash crops of yaqona (kava) and coconut. They also derive an income from selling prawns and seasonal cane cutting work. 94. Approximately 15% of households earn F$10 per week, while approximately 5% earn F$100 per week, about 80% would earn less than $5 per week. 95. Approximately 20 youths in the village are unemployed and will be seeking employment in the construction of the road. There are 5 elderly people in the village that require assistance from their families. 96. Nawaca Primary School and Bua College are located two kilometers and seven kilometers from the village. 97. The primary form of transport for the whole village is the bus which stops eight times per day on the Nabouwalu Road in front of the village. Villagers feel that the bus service is inadequate for their needs. 98. There is a Methodist church in the village and a meeting hall. 99. The village relies on the Nabouwalu Police Post and Medical Centre The village has a diesel generator that supplies all of the houses as well as communal telephone. There is no retail store in the village Each house in the village has tap water. The nearby creek is used for clothes washing, bathing and prawning. Seven of the 32 households have flush toilets, the rest have water seal toilets. 6. Focus Group Meeting in Nawaca Village (3/8/05) Interviewees: 20 Women, 11 Men All Fijian 102. Nawaca village is located five to ten APs from the Nabouwalu Road at chainage 56.8 km. It has a population of approximately 250 with 34 houses. The village is on native land owned by the following mataqali: Niurua, Tova, Yavalavala and Daviko The villagers grow subsistence crops as well as cash crops of coconut and yaqona (Kava). They also harvest crabs and kuta reed.

17 Approximately 60% of the village is estimated to earn about F$13 per week, while about 40% earns between F$8 and F$2 per week There are approximately 30 men in the village that are seeking employment and would be available to work on the construction of the road There are ten elderly members of the community that require assistance from their families. There are also eight members receiving military retirement funds and seven receiving welfare The village uses the Nawaca Primary school and the Bua Central college which are approximately 0.5 and 2 kilometers away respectively The bus service stops 10 times a day at the village. All the village occupants make use of this service as their primary form of transport. The village members that were consulted did not feel that the regularity of this service was adequate for their transport needs. In addition, there is no bus stop nearby. Privately-owned vehicles in the village consist of two two-tonne trucks and one one-tonne van. The village s development priority is to upgrade the 50 AP access road to the Nawaca Primary School There is a Methodist church in the village. There are also four other churches of different denominations along the road from the village which members of the village make use of. There is also a community hall and two privately-owned shops in the village The villagers rely on the services of the hospital, police post and petrol station at Nabouwalu. There are two privately-owned shops in the village The village has a diesel generator that supplies all the houses with electricity. There is one village phone Each household has water on tap and a water-seal toilet. The nearby creek is used for washing. 7. Focus Group Meeting in Namau Settlement (29/7/05) Interviewees: 26 Indo-Fijian men 113. Namau Settlement is located alongside the Nabouwalu Road at km The Fijian settlement is located on Native land owned by seven mataqali that mostly reside in Nabouwalu village, part of the land is also owned by Tui Vuya and another part is owned by the Methodist Church of Fiji. The Indo-Fijian community resides on native lease land which consists of seven 30-year leaseholds that are due to expire in 9 years The settlement has a population of 64 Fijian residents that reside in 16 households and 120 Indo-Fijian residents that reside in 26 households. According to the representatives that attended the consultations there has been no migration from the settlement in the last ten years The Fijian settlement maintains small-holder subsistence and cash crops of dalo, yaqona (kava), and melon. The Indo-Fijian community was practicing commercial rice farming, however due to poor maintenance of the drains and culverts in the area, water supply to the

18 17 area has been disrupted and the farmers have stopped growing rice. There is one small store in the settlement The average income per household in the Fijian community is approximately F$20 per week, four out of the sixteen Fijian households earn approximately F$5 per week. The Indo- Fijian community earn an average of F$39 per week, with some families earning approximately F$97 and others earning approximately F$19. There are 14 unemployed Fijian youths and 15 people from the Indo-Fijian community that are seeking employment. In the Fijian community, there are two very elderly members of the community and one stroke victim that require assistance from their families. In the Indo-Fijian community there are four elderly people and two people receiving welfare benefits The settlement uses the Namau Primary School which is one mile away. Most families send their children to the Bua College for their secondary education which is 12 km away The bus stops outside the settlement eight times per day on its return journeys from Nabouwalu to Labasa. The bus is the primary form of transport for the community. However the Fijian community feels that the frequency of the bus service is unsatisfactory. There is no bus stop outside the Fijian area of the settlement, so passengers have to wave the bus down. The bus fare is also considered expensive. There are seven privately-owned vehicles and three taxis within the Indo-Fijian Community. However, the whole settlement uses the bus service as their primary form of transport. The representatives of the Indo-Fijian community that attended the consultation stated that they were satisfied with the bus service There are two Christian churches in the settlement, they are of Methodist and Seventh Day Adventist denominations. There are two Hindu templates in the settlement The settlement makes use of the Nabouwalu hospital, police post, market and petrol station, all of which are located roughly three miles from the settlement The Fijian community does not have electricity, hurricane lamps are used at night. 12 Indo-Fijian houses own a generator. There is an FEA line alongside the road where the settlement is located but the representatives that attended the consultation advised that it is incomplete. There are no telephone services There are nine pit toilets in the Fijian community. There are nine flush toilets in the Indo- Fijian community; the other 19 households have water seal toilets. The nearby creek is used for drinking water, bathing, washing and prawning. The Indo-Fijian community, which is located closer to the road, is connected to the government water supply from Nabouwalu. 8. Focus Group meeting in Bua Lomainikoro Village (1/8/05) Interviewees: 13 Women 15 Men All Fijian 123. Bua Lomainokoro village is a grouping of three villages, these are: Bua, Tiliva and Dalomo. They are located 1-2 km from the Nabouwalu Road at km The population was estimated by the village head as 260 with 64 households. The villages are located on Native