The landowners of Adi Cakobau School have no issues with the cutting down of the mahogany trees that surround the school.
Although there were claims made in the Fiji Times that the landowners were not consulted, Sawani Village Headman Anare Batigai has made it clear that they were aware of the cutting down of the mahogany trees and says that this was done as the branches of the trees were falling on the school infrastructure and this was a safety risk for the staff and students.
He has stressed that many of the young girls at Sawani Village and communities nearby attend ACS and the safety of their children at the school is paramount.
Batigai says that as per their lease agreement with ACS, the school can conduct works to ensure that their students can study in a safe and conducive learning environment.
He adds that the school involves the community and the village in a lot of its development activities and the school also provides employment to the people of Sawani Village during the holidays, helping out with maintenance and cleaning of the school.
Meanwhile, old scholars and parents are concerned as this has changed the look of the school and puts the safety of its students at risk.
Adi Cakobau School Principal Arieta Yauvoli has referred all questions to the Asset Monitoring Unit at the Ministry of Education.
We have sent questions to the Director Asset Monitoring Unit at the Ministry of Education Serupepeli Udre and he says that he would respond later today as he is currently in the Western Division.
