Government reiterated its commitment to the ‘Look North’ policy by urging people to remain in the division and witness major changes that would happen in the region as the policy was put into practice.
Commissioner Northern Lt Colonel Inia Seruiratu said that since 2009 networks between private and public stakeholders have been formed and infrastructural developments the Government had committed to undertake would open up the northern economy in a big way.
The North he said was undergoing a period of change and people needed to stop getting caught up in the rural urban drift and help develop the division.
“Let me assure all of us that Government is committed to the ‘Look North’ policy, one that has long been in existence, it has been in existence since 2002 but we begin to see the commitment from Government since August and November 2007 and as a result things are beginning to change,” Lt Col Seruiratu said.
“Unfortunately over the years Vanua Levu has always been neglected but things are changing, these change are for the betterment of service delivery and of course laying foundations for economic growth and sustainability in the years to come.
“Government is so focused on making life easier and better for everybody, for the business communities and investors, particularly for the poor and deprived.
“Vanua Levu has special allocations in the 2011 Budget.
“But we all need to do our part, it takes a lot of convincing and argument to bring the dollar across to Vanua Levu but the challenge we all face is how we are going to contribute to development.
“Priority one is infrastructure – in infrastructure development we will see a lot of changes in the conditions of our roads, creation of new roads, in the buildings of wharves and jetties, extension of FEA grids, water, health services and education.”
Lt Colonel Seruiratu said the problems, which made Vanua Levu one of the biggest contributors to the rural urban drift, were being addressed.
“Vanua Levu is a big contributor to the urban drift for a few reasons,” he said.
“One is economic – there are not enough economic opportunities but Government has launched the northern development programme and through other programmes we are addressing that seriously.
“Of course there was a problem with land and it is also a big contributor to the urban drift but through the CBULL and the Land Use Decree that problem has been fixed.
“Education is a big contributor to urban drift because of the quality of rural schools but let me assure you that Government is also addressing that seriously, the allocation to all schools particularly the building grants and boarding facility are now in the office of the commissioner. He will ensure this money is fully utilised so that problem can be arrested as well.”
-End-