VILLAGERS of Dravuwalu on Totoya in Lau have been without kerosene for the past three months as a result of irregular shipping services.
Sikiti Cakacaka told The Fiji Times from Totoya it has been hard to cope without fuel, food or medical supplies.
Mrs Cakacaka most families have to resort to using candles at night.
She said they had to spend about $23 to buy kerosene from nearby Tovu and Ketei villages.
She said the villagers had to pay $13 per gallon for outboard fuel, and $10 for a gallon of kerosene.
Another problem is the shortage of sugar, flour and rice.
Ministry of Works and Shipping public relations officer Sainiana Waqainabete said the ministry understood shipping services in the Eastern Division was an ongoing problem.
"The ministry knows that the shipping franchise in the country is not sufficient," Ms Waqainabete said.
"And our minister is serious in addressing it."
An option for the ministry is revamping the ship building industry and upgrading government vessels.
The global increase in the cost of fuel has caused many problems, especially for rural and island communities.
