The land at the Botanical Garden in Suva

The Suvavou villagers are ready to take further action if their concerns are not met by the relevant authorities.

The Suvavou villagers at the Suva City Council earlier today

After presenting their petitions to the Suva City Council earlier today, Village Spokesperson Joe Navara says they will do whatever it takes to protect their sacred burial ground.

Navara says the piece of land located at the Suva Botanical garden is the traditional burial ground of their forefathers and they don’t want any development to take place there.

He says they are hoping the government will reconsider their plans of giving the land away to the Indian government to build their embassy.

“But we would rather discuss like this for them to consider, for the last 100 plus years the government, the city council has not anything to us, so for them to take this again from us, it’s a slap in the face.”

The land at the Botanical Garden in Suva

The Suvavou villagers are calling on the government to hear them out as they will continue pressing the issue.