A first-ever “Meet the Public and Press” Town Hall event was organised by the Fiji Media Association for Savusavu and Labasa in Vanua Levu earlier this week. It gave government leaders and officials a chance to listen to people’s views and opinions to improve government services.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Hon. Biman Prasad and the Assistant Minister for Public Works and Transport Hon. Naisa Tuinaceva, together with government officials, met with members of the public, community leaders, and media personnel to have proper discussions on areas that do not get many opportunities to be directly seen or heard.
Speaking during the Town Hall event in Savusavu, Hon. Tuinaceva, while acknowledging the FMA, said that he was grateful to be part of the event and that it gives the government a chance to enlighten the general public on the current status of service delivery.
“When we talk about national infrastructure, development and maintenance strategies, including roads and bridges across Fiji, the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) continues to implement a robust forward-looking infrastructure development and maintenance strategy aimed at improving road access, ensuring public safety, and building climate-resilient infrastructure,” he said.
DPM Prasad acknowledged the public for taking interest in such discussions that allow collaboration between the people and the Government.
“We are pleased as a Government that since coming into power in 2022, we have created an environment of freedom and an opportunity for the people to express their opinion without fear. Today we are pleased to have independent media in this country, and that is important for democracy," DPM Prasad said.
The Town Hall had a positive public turnout at both venues, allowing the Government to thoroughly explain various opportunities through schemes and grants as benefits to better serve the people.