Proposed new cemetery in Nawaka

A solution has been proposed in order to ease the problem of burying the dead in the township of Nadi.

A premium site for the proposed new Nadi Cemetery that could potentially hold 40,000 graves and three modern gas-fired crematoriums, is located just 15 minutes from Nadi Central Business District.

Chair of the Concerned Nadi Citizens Ronnie Chang, 71, hand-delivered the proposal to the Acting Prime Minister and Minister for External Trade, Cooperatives, and SMEs and Communications, Manoa Kamikamica during the Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry meeting at the Skylodge Hotel in Nadi last Friday.

The private entity business proposal is subject to Government approval. Speaking about the current Enamanu Cemetery, which was set up in 1918, he said: “Enamanu Cemetery was nearing capacity, nothing much eventuated.”

On June 1, 2022, a business development concept was formulated by project designer and partner John Grey including major support from Sydney-based lessee, Muthu Menon, involving the Mataqali Vunabaka Nawaka.

“The mataqali stand ready to facilitate; they will be our joint partners. A private entity is ready to be formed, we have business pleasure in place,” he said. “The magic of this is, the mataqali of Vunabaka will be our shareholders at the end of the 20 years of existence, and we shall surrender the project to them in totality.

Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Dr Ram Raju said that it was a much battled issue that needed attention.

Mr Kamikamica said he understood the elements that affected the people of Nadi which needed the support from the Government and would be prioritised.

“For the cemetery, we need your file and to engage and see what we need for the town and a solution to be in place,” he said.