Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu started his two-day tour of the Eastern Division yesterday, beginning with a visit to the four villages on Moturiki Island in the Lomaiviti Group.
There are two major projects currently being implemented on the island. These are the Moturiki Water Project and the Moturiki Footpath Project which links the four villages of Naicabecabe, Nasauvuki, Navuti and Nasesara.
Minister Seruiratu said the visit to Moturiki was to check on the progress of the project implementations and listen to some of the issues faced by the communities.
“The common issues are again seawalls, particularly in the villages, foot crossings linking the villages, some issues with solar that have already been installed and just some usual development issues that people in the outer island face,” Minister Seruiratu said.
Upon reaching Ovalau yesterday, Minister Seruiratu was also briefed on the proposed Fiji Agrovoltaic Project.
Today, the Minister will be meeting with Government officials on Ovalau before proceeding to visit other Government funded projects.
“Again for us, the main thing is to follow up on the projects that are currently being implemented and most importantly keep connecting to the rural people and hearing their concerns and also see how it can be best addressed not only by the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development, but by other Government agencies as well.
During his visit to Moturiki, Minister Seruiratu held talanoa sessions at the villages of Naicabecabe and Nasesara.
While speaking to villagers at Nasesara, the Minister reminded them that Fiji is still two months away from the end of the cyclone season, and that there is a need for people to build and improve their housing structures that could withstand cyclones.