Prime Minister Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama opened the Ra Province Council meeting yesterday with words of encouragement and well wishes as the support for his Government gains momentum.
He told the meeting of similar backing from provinces like Tailevu, Naitaisri, Cakaudrove and Namosi to assist Government move the country forward with its vision for a better and new Fiji for all under the People’s Charter for Change Peace and Progress.
Bainimarama said the Government had implemented strategies, cultivated and planted seeds of peace and harmony among all ethnicities to bring hope for all citizens of the country.
Quite a number of opportunities have come about with changes taking place in Government where results of performance are focused in achieving common goals. These changes are:
1. De-regulation of the Telecommunications market to allow competition in charges of telephone services provided in the country.
2. Regulating food prices, especially daily essential needs to all families to assist low-income earners.
3. Regulating the Hardware Industry, the decision was to enable ordinary people to build own houses at a more reasonable prices, this will also encourage investors into the country.
4. Education assistance, this is the most precious gift ever given by the Government on behalf of the parents to educate our children with all the efforts provided by Government for a better and well educated nation.
5. Assistance to the poor and food vouchers, Government is executing its plan to assist our people move out from poverty to a more prosperous life. It also encourages people to establish income-generating activities through starting their own small businesses. The Prime Minister also encouraged Ra chiefs to support their own people in looking after the under privilege.
6. Restructure of Sugar industry. Ra being one of the province in the country supplying sugar cane to FSC, Government is trying all its best to restructure the industry in a more productive way. The Prime Minister encouraged people of Ra to cultivate their land for sugarcane. He added the Government was assisting landowners, who wished to utilise their land through Land Use Unit, where Government would be the custodian of their land.