Vanua Levu Development Plan on the way

22/03/2010

Pillar 7 of the National Strategic Framework for Change, where decision-making powers devolved to Divisional Commissioners  in drawing up divisional and local development plans and priority setting with local participation, has been making an impact for the people in the North, says Divisional Planning Officer Mr Eliki Tikoidraubuta.

The Commissioner Northern’s office is now working on putting together a Vanua Levu Development Plan.’

The document according to Mr Tikoidraubuta will address some of the much needed sectors in terms of improving the livelihood of people and income generating projects in the northern division.

While infrastructure is a key area, Mr Tikoidraubuta said that the northern division in the past has been suffering from development because of poor infrastructure. One such area is the poor road condition which the Commissioner Northern’s office is looking at seriously.

In that regard, Mr Tikoidraubuta confirms that more roads will be open up this year and this includes the linking up of the roads from Labasa to Tawake and also  a new road to Udu.

“So we’ll be linking up those remote areas to the main roading network in the Northern Division (Labasa). These are exciting times in the division and also for the people in those districts,” Mr Tikoidraubuta added.

The draft document is expected to be presented to the Prime Minister’s office by the end of this month.