JOSEFA ULUILAKEBA
A commitment made by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to members of the yavusa Sabutoyatoya on Waya Lailai Island in the Yasawa Groups came to fruition recently.
This as the Divisional Commissioner West¬ern, Mesake Ledua, officiated at the com¬missioning of their home based solar system project.
The project which was funded by the Office of the Prime Minister’s Small Grant Scheme benefits 96 households and the island pop¬ulation of 450 in the villages of Namara, Yamata and Naboro.
Congratulating the villagers on behalf of the Prime Minister, Mr Ledua said the pro¬ject was an investment by the Government and will provide them an opportunity to en¬hance their lives.
“Electrification brings with it opportunities to use home electrical appliances, allow your children to study effectively at night and use electronic devices that can enhance their studies.”
“The Government carrying out such pro¬jects is part of its commitment to building a better Fiji, one that provides equal oppor¬tunities for every Fijian and is determined to meet its objective of ensuring that all Fijians have access to reliable electrical power and to have 100 per cent renewable energy in Fiji by 2036 and furthermore to achieve net zero emission by 2050,” Mr Ledua said.
He added that the Government was com¬mitted to ending the isolation of the mari¬time and rural communities and ensuring that they have the same advantages and ser¬vices as people in the major urban centres.
The project that cost around $400,000 also provides the islanders the opportunity to en¬hance their income generating prospects as it has the potential to raise the level of eco¬nomic activity on the island.
Village Headman, Ulaiasi Tuivomo, said the home-based solar system brings about a lot of relief and it was important that they take ownership of the project.
“We are already working on a strategy to ensure that we have funds available in case a system in one of the homes need servicing as we felt that it is our responsibility to ensure that this investment by Government lasts,” Mr Tuivomo said.