Riverbank erosion is becoming prevalent in Fiji, threatening communities living along the river systems. For all of you living here in Nadaro, it’s dire and intervention is necessary to address river bank erosion. Nadaro Village is surrounded by Waisere Creek, with the village boundary fixed to the meandering feature of the creek. As such during the period of peaks flows flood water flows towards the village, causing scouring at the foot of the bank leading to destabilization and eventual erosion of the bank. The eroding of Waisere Creek bank poses an imminent threat to the Nadaro Village. 

Although significant resources have been dedicated to programmes aimed at increasing women’s political leadership and participation, progress has been rather slow in the Pacific Region since we gained independence from our colonial masters decades ago. For example, the Pacific region has found it challenging to reach targets of even 10 percent women’s representation in Parliament. Only in January 2016 was the first woman elected President of a Pacific country, Dr. Hilda Heine, in the Republic of Marshall Islands.  

Under this Government, we have seen improved changes in the overall administration of our country. Fiji’s economy had grown to a level never achieved before by previous governments. We have witnessed various infrastructural developments and upgrades. We have introduced new policies and initiatives to benefit the ordinary Fijians. We have made new bilateral agreements and strategic international friendships and witnessed first-hand the support of our partner nations in moving this country forward.  

As a demonstration of our obligation to the boxing fraternity, the Ministry of Youth and Sports is working on the upgrade of the old PWD Boxing Gym “the home of amateur boxing in Fiji” in Walu Bay. This we hope to have it completed and ready by the middle of the year. 

I applaud the works and efforts of the Board and those at the helm of the Association in steering the wheel to where you are today, another milestone where not only are we having members, with its numbers growing but to actually having them registered. There is realization of what had been mapped out to fulfil the requirements of establishing the Association, to seeing that it will now run the course that the Association had envisioned.