On September 29, 2023, the people of Lautoka finally heard something they had been waiting to hear for a very long time.
There was encouraging news that the health hazards caused by fires at the Vunato Dump site would soon be a thing of the past.
It came from Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa, and for many residents, it brought hope, that their years of suffering might finally come to an end.
They had every reason to feel that way.
The people of Lautoka have had to live with the effects of thick black smoke, billowing across their city whenever fires broke out at the dump.
Families have been forced to shut their windows, keep their children indoors, and pray for the wind to change direction. Those with asthma or chronic illnesses have had to struggle just to breathe.
Every fire has brought with it fear, frustration and anger. So when talk of relocating the dump surfaced, it was welcomed. It was long overdue.
At the time, Mr Nalumisa said the plan was to move the dump to a more suitable location away from the city and to build a proper landfill with a recycling facility.
It was a sensible idea, one that promised to address what he called the “nuisance experienced from the frequent fires at the dump site”.
But here we are, more than a year later, and thick smoke is once again rising from the Vunato Dump.
The air in Lautoka is filled with the same acrid, suffocating fumes that have caused so much distress over the years.
This is not a new problem. In September 2022, arson was identified as the cause of fires at the site, and police were informed.
Back then, Lautoka City Council chief executive Mohammed Anees Khan said the council never used fire to manage waste, but relied on natural decomposition methods. He talked about relocation plans and encouraged people to separate their garbage at home to reduce the amount of waste going to the dump.
That was three years ago.
In 2023, the council said fires often happened during the dry months and promised to strengthen security, install CCTV cameras, and use pumps to control future fires. Yet, despite all that, here we are again.
The dump is burning. The smoke is spreading. And residents are once again left to deal with the consequences. Something is not right. Either the promised measures were never properly carried out, or they simply do not work.
What is clear is that someone needs to take responsibility. This cannot go on.
The people of Lautoka deserve to live in a safe, healthy environment. They should not have to breathe in toxic smoke year after year while officials issue the same explanations and promises.
The Vunato fire is a nuisance. It is a public health hazard. It affects everyone, especially the elderly, children, and those with breathing difficulties.
This is a serious state of affairs. It demands urgent action from those in authority.
The time for talk has long passed. The people of Lautoka have been patient. They have listened, they have waited, and they have endured.
Enough is enough. The fires must stop! And someone must be held accountable!
