By JOSAIA RALAGO
QALIKARUA Villagers on Matuku, in Yasayasa Moala have praised the Coalition Government for ensuring that their communities are not left behind in development.
They have also welcomed the inclusive manner in which the National Development Plan (NDP) public consultations were conducted with the NDP team visiting the Lau Group this month.
Village Headman, Lincon Saint John said this was a first time for such a consultation where they are able to have a say in a key document that would help shape the course of development in the country.
“We are grateful to the Government that despite our geographical location, we have a team visiting our communities so our voices could be heard which tells us that the Government is there for us and we are cared for as people of this country,” Mr St John said.
“We recently had our solar lights installed by the Government, alleviating lighting issues in our daily lives, where our children get to study under quality lighting, and now women could weave late into the evening.”
Tovu Village headman on Totoya Island, Mosese Mailoma shared similar sentiments saying that the inclusion of their communities in the NDP public consultation where they can hear issues directly from community members, was commendable.
Some of the issues raised included improvement of franchise shipping service and fares, climate change concerns and communication towers to improve communication.
Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, had earlier said that the outcome of this consultation process being held across the country, would help build a 3-Year, 5-Year and 20-Year National Development Plan.
He said one of the key areas the Coalition Government had decided to capitalise on was to consult and work with the people, so the administration could understand the priority areas for development.
“When we made all that analysis, we then realised that we needed a new plan, so we decided we will have 3-Year, 5-Year and 20-Year plan,” DPM Prasad said.