AFTER 36 years, the Yavusa Munia has regained ownership of its 1110-hectare land on Avea Island in Vanuabalavu, Lau, following its acquisition under the Government’s Freehold Land Buyback Scheme.
The historic handover of the original freehold title was marked by the sound of traditional drums as members of the yavusa gathered to celebrate the return of their ancestral land.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka officiated at the ceremony on Wednesday and described the occasion as the beginning of a new chapter for the landowners.
Speaking in the iTaukei language, Mr Rabuka said the return of the island represented more than the restoration of ownership, but the return of identity, hope and responsibility.
He called on landowners to protect the island’s natural environment, saying economic development and environmental conservation must go hand in hand. For the people of Munia, the ceremony closed a painful chapter in their history.
Speaking on behalf of the villagers, 70-year-old Etuate Uni said the day would be remembered for generations.
He said their forefathers endured great hardship after being forced to leave Munia.
“What we are witnessing today is the reality of what our forefathers dreamed and worked so hard for. This is proof that their struggles were not in vain,” Mr Uni said.
