Page 13 - Islands Business October 2022

Climate Change Climate Change

plight of the people. “It’s not not simply a matter of something external, of
It is a unique situation because of what the community economy or politics. It’s a question of respect for God and his
believes is their sacred duty to protect the site for their tradi- creation and of alleviating the pain of those who suffer.’’
tional overlord. There is a spiritual aspect to climate change After the churches visited Vunisavisavi, it was evident to
and relocation which is being put to the test at Vunisavisavi. civil society observers that the situation was in effect a stale-
Former teacher and diplomat, Ben Salacakau, works for the mate - the people were unwilling to break their vow to the
Curia - headquarters of the Roman Catholic church in Suva - chief; without an order from Tui Cakau, the status quo would
but his ancestral home is one of those under threat. remain; the people would never seek such an order.
Salacakau said officials and experts had visited Vunisavisavi In an interview last year, Archbishop Chong, not in refer-
with preconceived ideas and little appreciation of identity, ence to Vunisavisavi, said: “There needs to be a conversion
culture and the spiritual connection between the people and of hearts. Ecological conversion doesn’t happen in isolation,
the land. the conversion also has to be something internal in the heart
“If this site is abandoned, the very identity of the chiefs and of each individual. There has to be a drawing closer to God,
people of Cakaudrove would be lost,’’ Salacakau said. respect for his creation, a spirit of solidarity and generosity
“We estimate that there is enough time left for us to live towards all those who, even if they are far away geographical-
in the house and not need to relocate. If relocation becomes ly, are still our brothers and are suffering terribly. My people
unavoidable, then it will be the concern of the future genera- are weeping; who will dry their tears?’’
tion.” Sirino Rakabi of the Catholic charity arm, Caritas, said the
Despite the knowledge and wisdom about plants, the sea- time had come for the church to build bridges between com-
sons and the sea, nothing has prepared the people of Vunisav- munities and force difficult conversations.
isavi for this clear and present danger - climate change. “It’s time for the church to bring the people and the chiefs
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong - head of Fiji’s 80,000 Catho- together,’’ Rakabi said.
lic population - knows of the suffering at Vunisavisavi. Most “Prayer is good, but practical solutions and actions are
of the community is Catholic and their chief, Ratu Naiqama equally important.’’
Lalabalavu, converted to the faith. For Vunisavisavi, perhaps it is time to stop looking up
“Our faith teaches us to transform our suffering and anguish and instead look around for solutions which will secure a safe
into prayer, into pleas that God may hear the cry of my home for their children, who play on a diminishing
people,’’ Chong said. shoreline.

A COG IN FIJI’S HISTORY

SITE LINKS ANCIENT KINGDOMS

One account of the origins of Vunisavisavi begins with a Wairiki, Taveuni, and a son was born.
young chief setting out from the pre-European kingdom of Only after this marriage and birth did the title Tui Cakau
Verata which was, at the time, a dominant political force. (literally, ‘he who is from Cakau’) come into being, created
With his retainers, the chief left his home on the east by the Cakaudrove people.
coast of Viti Levu - Fiji’s largest island - and sailed into the The union cemented a blood link between Verata and
Koro Sea before being blown towards Waikava. Cakaudrove which remains to this day.
Through the reef they sighted and landed upon a small Tui Cakau chose to settle on Taveuni and abandoned his
island, Cakaudrove-i-Wai, which became their base until original dwelling at Vunisavisavi, presumably to control
it was necessary to land on the mainland to find food and and defend the island against Tongan attacks seeking to
permanent lodging. advance territorial gains from their bases in Lau.
Cakaudrove-i-Wai is about 800 square metres in area The choice to relocate in the mid-19th Century and
and lies less than half a kilometer off Vunisavisavi, which make Taveuni his home, meant that Vunisavisavi - the origi-
became the traditional seat of the Tui Cakau. nal settlement of immigrant Verata people - would lose
With the people of Waikava, the Verata chief later waged physical importance.
war on Wairiki, Taveuni, defeated the town and went on to Today, it is a shadow of its former glory, the ancient
subdue the remainder of the northern part of the island in a stone fences now fallen and waiting to be engulfed by the
series of battles. approaching sea.
After the war on Taveuni, the Verata chief sailed to
Tunuloa in Natewa Bay and fell in love with the daughter publisher@islandsbusiness.com
of the local chief. After marriage, the couple settled at

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