Tailevu settlement waits for power connection | Fiji Sun

As the nation awaits the 2026-2027 National Budget announcement, residents of Kaleli Settlement in Tailevu are hoping this will finally be the year their long-standing plea for electricity is answered. Despite power lines running about three kilometres from their homes, families continue to rely on kerosene lamps and small solar systems, which often fail during prolonged periods of bad weather. Settlement leader Tuvou Lavenakaubi said the absence of electricity has become one of the biggest obstacles to improving the lives of villagers, many of whom depend on fishing for their livelihood. He noted that fishermen return from the sea late at night with fish and other seafood, but there is nowhere to keep the catch fresh until morning, leading to significant waste. For fisherman Samu Naisaboca, the issue is about more than convenience; he said that when their catch spoils before it reaches the market, it feels like all that effort was for nothing. The lack of electricity is also affecting education in the settlement, with villagers like Kelera Labalaba noting that children often struggle to study at night, particularly when bad weather prevents solar systems from charging. With Budget Day just days away, residents say they are once again placing their hopes on the Government. For a community that has waited years for a promise to be fulfilled, electricity is more than just power — it represents opportunity, improved livelihoods and a better future for the next generation.

(Source：Fiji Sun)