from Peceli
Silver seas, mangroves and shorelines
Yesterday I was asked what I thought about the Qoliqoli Bill. I haven't read it yet but I am glad the subject is coming out into the open for discussion. I am writing about our love of the sea, especially the fishermen tribes, such as the Lasakau on Bau Island. This is relevant to the current discussions about the Qoliqoli Bill in the Fiji Parliament.
Qoliqoli means fishing, so it really is about fishing in Fiji waters. It is about how to negotiate a mutual agreement between traditional Fijians who live by the sea and the developers such as for hotel and resort purposes. We hope that everyone can benefit out of this bill. A win-win for all concerned.
When I arrived at Bau land a couple of weeks ago I noticed how unspoit and undisturbed the shoreline was with mangroves still intact. It had not been changed and women could still go fishing, looking for crabs and shellfish. We were on our way to the chiefly island of Bau with a group of Conference representatives. There were ten of us in the 40 hp outboard boat going through the calm water of the Waisiliva sea . (Silver)
It came in my mind the famous song 'Ena dela ni wai siliva, lei Bau na kemui rorororo.' Which means - You are famous Bau, surrounded by the silver sea. And the other song the Centenary Choir used to sing when they visited Melbourne, 'Au kacivi ira levu na luvequ tu yawa mera levu tale mai ena vanua ni tadra ' - Calling back the sons and daughters of Fiji to think about our homeland.
Last year I was at the Conference held in Nadi at Narewa village. This was quite a contrast to Bau island. They had built a new church which cost $3 million, built in the centre of the village. The people have ready-made wealth from the tourist resort developments at Denarau and the township of Nadi.
But what I noticed was that the men and women now had limited access to their shorelines and sea resources. Denarau with its alternations of the shoreline meant that the mangroves were pulled out for the sake of development. The villages around Nadi are neat and tidy and well developed because of the development leases.
Next year the Conference will be held in Macuata and most likely in Naduri, a village beside the sea where the Tui Macuata lives. This is babasiga land in the midst of sugar-cane growing land and the shoreline is mainly mangroves. We have written about the Tui Macuata's concern for the Great Reef and the tabu on it.
My concern is appropriate development of our shorelines and the sea, respect for the reefs as well as enjoyment of the beauty.
Check for Fiji Parliament website for the Qoliqoli Bill.
ReplyDeleteI suggest you guys from Babasiga, make a submission for the Qoliqoli Bill. While you're at it, ask the Tui Vorovoro to submit one as well.
It's almost like voting, don;t complain about politicians when you didn't take time to vote.
Piece of advice.
Don't rely on hearsay regarding laws that will affect your ancestral resources and the livelihood of the grass roots community in Macuata.
In Lau province, their paramount chief, Tui Nayau(Office currently still vacant) has little to no say on native fishing grounds.
I'm surprised Tui Macuata has jurisdiction over those reefs.
"Carp Diem".
Thanks for the links and we can read the fine print of the Qoliqoli Bill, then be able to respond.
ReplyDeleteThe news stories in the Fiji papers are really on about arguments and some isolated cases I think. But it is important to realize what the implications will be.
W.
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