COVID19 FIELD VISIT Wednesday 6 – Friday 8 May 2020 MISSION UNIT: Viti Levu West Episcopal Unit 1.0 Introduction The Fijian economy is largely agricultural, and the main cash crop and export is sugar cane. Tourism is the largest foreign-exchange earner and clothing exports grew rapidly from the late 1980s. Other significant activities are gold- mining, fishing and timber production. The Mission Unit of Viti Levu West covers an area consisting of the townships of Sigatoka, Nadi, Ba, Tavua and Lautoka City. 2.0 Purpose of Field Visit: The purpose of this trip was to visit and talanoa with the priests in charge and if possible, some lay people in the parishes down in Viti Levu West, especially to gather information on the impact of the global pandemic COVID19 on our church communities. The priority focus was given to Viti Levu West Mission Unit as most of the Fiji’s economy export, sugar cane and tourism is mainly from the Western part of Fiji. The Parochial districts in these areas are namely; The Church of the Good Shepherd, Sigatoka town o St Stephen’s Worship Centre, Yalava o St Francis of Assisi Worship Centre, Nadrala St Christopher’s Anglican Church, Nadi town St Peter’s Anglican Church, Lautoka City Church of the Holy Spirit, Ba town Figure 1 Viti Levu & Ovalau map. Source: mapisland.com Page | 1 COVID19 Field Report 06-08 May 2020 3.0 SITES VISITED: 1. Church of the Holy Family, Waidradra – Suva & Ovalau Archdeaconry Priest in Charge: Reverend Viliame Vereverevatu Background: The Waidradra settlement is within the proximity of Pacific Harbour, a tourist destination. Most of the people of the settlement (between the ages 18yrs -50yrs) work at the Pacific Harbour Cultural Centre as cultural and hotel entertainers, tour Figure 2Church of the Holy Family guides, divers, handicraft stall holders, bure builders, chefs and as hotel workers (The Pearl) to name a few. # Families affected by COVID19: 20 How? Loss of jobs directly part of the Tourism Industry – Fijian Cultural Centre, Hotel Loss of jobs – Construction workers Figure 3 Priest in Charge Revd Viliame Deduction of working hours and family Figure 4 Vicarage currently being built Figure 5 Inside church building Figure 7 Fiji Cultural Centre – Tourist Centre Figure 6 Church Warden Aliki Lakowai, Fr Vili, Secretary to Vestry, Jeke Dikiwai. Page | 2 COVID19 Field Report 06-08 May 2020 2. Church of the Good Shepherd, Sigatoka Priest in Charge: Reverend George (Joji) Abonio Background: The Church of the Good Shepherd is a Parochial district based in the town of Sigatoka. The major tourist attractions in Sigatoka include the Sigatoka Sand dunes, Sigatoka Kula Eco park, the Sigatoka River, and is the principal centre for Fiji’s coastal tourism. Figure 6 Church of the Good Shepherd, Sigatoka The Church of the Good Shepherd also has two worship centres in the valley: i) St Francis of Assisi Worship Centre, Nadrala, Sigatoka # Families affected by COVID19: 8 How? Loss of jobs in the Tourism sector i.e. Hotel workers, handicraft stall holders, cultural and hotel entertainers, Lack of business for market vendors Figure 7 Reverend Joji and family selling freshwater mussels (fresh from Sigatoka river), vegetables and market produce Figure 108 Revd Revd Joji Joji and and Nadrala Nadrala communi communityty Figure 11 St Francis of Assisi Worship Centre Page | 3 COVID19 Field Report 06-08 May 2020 i) St Stephen’s Worship Centre, Yalava village, Sigatoka # Families affected by COVID19: 12 How? Loss of jobs in the Toursim sector, e.g. Hotel workers, Handicraft stall holders, tour guides, cultural entertainers Figure 12 St Stephen Worship Centre, Yalava Figure 13 House blown down by Tropical Cyclone Harold Figure 14 Villagers diving for freshwater mussels 3. St Christopher’s Church, Nadi Vicar: Bishop Gabriel Sharma Figure 15 Freshwater mussels selling for $2 a heap Nadi is the heartbeat of Fiji’s Tourism sector. Most parishioners of St Christopher’s Church have jobs directly or closely linked to the Tourism industry. Most people also live in rental accommodation and due to reduced hours of work as well as some being laid off from their work, it is a struggle to meet rental payments and utility bills. #Families affected by COVD19: 20 How? Loss of jobs in the Tourism sector, factory workers Workers on limited hours work making it difficult to pay rental accommodation Figure 16 Bishop Gabriel Sharma, Reverend Daniel Houng Lee (Assistant priest) and Ann Houng Lee Page | 4 COVID19 Field Report 06-08 May 2020 4. St Peter’s Church, Lautoka Priest in Charge: Reverend Peni Wako Despite being the first city in Fiji to go on lockdown due to the first positive case of COVID19, the Priest in Charge assured us that the members of the Church were all ok in terms of employment and meeting their day to day needs. Figure 17 Revd Peni Wako and family Figure 18 St Peter’s Church, Lautoka Figure 19 Peni Wako Jnr – Viti Levu West Youth Coordinator 5. Church of the Holy Spirit, Ba Priest in Charge: Reverend Kelvin Rakesh Background: Ba is an agricultural centre, which makes it a cultural point for tourists. Sugar cane has long been the mainstay of the local economy, but some manufacturing projects have been established over the past twenty years. The town is also the home of some of Fiji's wealthiest families who own some of the country's most successful business houses. Figure 20 Church of the Holy Spirit #Families affected by COVID19? 10 How? Loss of jobs in the Tourism sector, factory workers and the FSC Sugar Mill Page | 5 COVID19 Field Report 06-08 May 2020 Workers on limited hours work making it difficult to pay rental accommodation 5.1 Chapel of the Light, Nabatolu, Ba Our team was privileged to visit the Chapel of the Light, up in the hills, in the interior of Figure 20 Revd Rakesh and family Ba. This area used to be the base for the Melanesian Anglican Brotherhood Order in the early 80s. Today it is no longer used as a monastery but is looked after by a former Brother – Bako and his wife. Figure 21 Chapel of the Light, Nabatolu Apart from the wooden chapel which is able to house 10-15 people, there is also a retreat house (3 bedroom) which offers accommodation. Mr Bako plants vegetables in the gardens and there is a need for a water pump to pump water from the river. We hope to promote this space more within our church as it is an ideal site for retreats, meditation and peace, up on the hills far away from the town life. Figure 22 Food gardens in Nabatolu Figure 23 Revd Rakesh with caretakers of the Retreat centre and chapel, Mr and Mrs Bako 6. Church of the Resurrection, Maniava, Ra Unfortunately, we were not able to visit Maniava due to the bad weather that day. Maniava is a settlement that was greatly affected by Tropical Winston in 2016. We hope to visit Maniava soon. Page | 6 COVID19 Field Report 06-08 May 2020 4.0 COVID19 Assistance Forms received from other parts of the Diocese: # Parochial District #Families affected 7. Church of the Holy Cross, Dreketi 20 8. Church of the Holy Redeemer, Levuka 20 9. St Lawrence, Nausori 1 10. St Gabriel, Laqere 11 11. St Bartholomew, Caubati 17 12. St John Wailoku 30 13. St Mark, Newtown 27 4.1 Remarks: Parishioners in Vanua Levu (Dreketi) and Suva and Ovalau have been affected due to: Loss of jobs i.e. laid off factory workers, workers on shipping ferry, motel, hotel and tourist recreational centres Deducted hours of work for factory workers Because of this, people are now looking for jobs, subsistence farming of vegetables and root crops, semi-subsistence fishing for family and income earning, and bartering system e.g. bartering labour and skill for groceries. COVID19 Assistance Forms: April 13 2020 – Situation Report Post TC HaroldCOVID19 Assistance Forms were sent out via email to all parishes in the Diocese April 29 2020 – Follow-up on Forms and a COVID19 Specific Assistance Form was sent out via email to all parishes in the Diocese 4 May 2020 – Deadline for receiving forms 8 May 2020 – Extended deadline for receiving forms We also recorded videos with the Priests in Charge who shared their talanoa as well as talanoa of their parishioners in Fijian, Hindi and English. These videos can be found on our social media page Anglican Diocese of Polynesia Facebook page. Vinaka Reverend Sepiuta Hala’api’api [Diocesan Secretary and Registrar] Caroline Chambers-Torovugalei [Diocesan Communications] 12/05/20 Page | 7 COVID19 Field Report 06-08 May 2020 .