On October 13, 1992, The Fiji Times reported that Votua villagers in Ba had criticised Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) for discharging toxic waste into the Ba River which in turn was killing marine life in the surrounding fishing grounds.

The toxic waste was discharged from the Rarawai Mill which was especially happening during the beginning and ending of the crushing seasons.

Marine life, including fish, crabs, eels, and kai (freshwater mussels) which were key income earners for the villagers were killed because of the pollution.

Votua Fishing Committee secretary Laitia Noel highlighted in 1990 that the villagers and the FSC had reached an agreement that villagers would be compensated for the loss of fishing rights.

“FSC had assured us that they would stop discharging the waste in the river since they had designed a scheme where an inland pond would be used for collecting the discharge,” he said.

He said once the discharge was in the water system after a week, it left a stench that was unhygienic and unbearable.

When the general manager of the Raiwai Mill Jim Venkteshwar was contacted, he denied any knowledge of such a complaint.

“No one has complained to us regarding the pollution and as far as we are concerned, no toxic waste from the mill goes into the Ba River,” he said.

Mr Noel said the 1990 agreement between the villagers and the FSC delegation assured that the villagers would be compensated not only for the loss marine of marine life but also for the long-term effects on native customary native rights.

The Ba River estuary came under the ownership of Votua village.

Mr Noel said they had not been awarded anything in spite of FSC’s agreement to compensate the villagers for their loss of fishing rights.

“Now we have another problem on hand, we have not been paid for our previous loss and now the same problem has started again,” he said.

He said whenever there was a discharge from the mill, the river turned murky.

“We found the problem had begun again and after a few days the stench was unbearable.

“We are not the only fishermen using the waters. There are other fishermen who use our fishing grounds whose only source of income is fishing.”

He said of the 135-mile fishing grounds owned by the village, toxic waste was discharged into about 10 miles of the area.

He added that they had taken up their case with Suva solicitor Qoriniasi Bale who would have pursued action with FSC’s solicitors, Munro Leys.