Members of the District Advisory Council in Cakaudrove were today reminded about the roles that they play towards Government’s development efforts.
Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Inia Seruiratu highlighted this while addressing DAC members serving in communities from the Cakaudrove province.
Hon. Seruiratu, along with the Ministry’s two Assistant Ministers Hon. Jale Sigarara and Hon. Vijay Nath met with DAC members in Savusavu today.
Minister Seruiratu said DAC members played a pivotal role in gathering data from their communities that would assist Government in working with its development partners.
“Governance is very important for us. Right now we have the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the office. Let me emphasise this, we are connected to the global issues and what drives global issues are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the implementation of these SDGs, what’s important is data,” Hon. Seruiratu said.
“We do a lot of activities but we don’t capture information and that’s a challenge for developing countries like us and we are trying to improve on that. This is also why councillors are requested to provide reports and if there’ll be surveys, I hope you will cooperate.”
“The quicker we get into our data sorted out, the better it will be for us in the long term.”
Hon. Seruiratu reiterated that Government had appointed them as development partners to assist in its development programmes and as DAC members, they should play their part in assisting Government’s efforts through the submission of timely reports.
“When it comes to partners and if we are going to ask for taxpayers’ money from another country, it is a matter of justification and justification is through facts and data.”
He also acknowledged the DAC members for their contribution and support towards Government’s development programmes.
Minister Seruiratu will be in Bua tomorrow to meet with DAC members serving communities within the province.