Vio Island residents in Lautoka were described as global trendsetters for their exemplary clean solar energy, under the Fijian Government’s Rural Electrification Project.
THE United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) new Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, Hon. Heather Wheeler made the compliment during a brief excursion to the island. She arrived in Fiji this yesterday afternoon, for what was her first overseas visit in her new ministerial role.
Hon. Wheeler is on her way to Tuvalu for the Pacific Island Forum, where one of the main topics for discussion will be climate change.
“I am keen to explore how the UK can work with Pacific Island leaders, both to tackle the effects we are already feeling and to limit further global warming,” she said.
“Renewable energy will be a key part of the solution. That is why I was so keen to visit Vio. I know that you have waited a long time for electricity, but with your clean solar energy you are now global trend-setters – all of us who have been lucky enough to have electricity for some time are going to be following in your footsteps and switching to renewable sources,” the Minister told residents.
Fijian Minster for Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. Jone Usamate expressed his gratitude to the UK Government for their contribution to the rural electrification project, and noted the positive changes and level of community engagement as a result.