MINISTER FOR RURAL AND MARITIME DEVELOPMENT, DISASTER MANAGEMENT & DEFENCE, NATIONAL POLICING AND SECURITY HON. INIA SERUIRATU'S ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE WAINIKORO GOVERNMENT STATION, MACUATA

Turaga na Tui Nadogo
Turaga na Tui Namuka
Turaga na Tui Dogotuki
Turaga na Tui Udu
 
Ni Sa Bula Vinaka!
 
On behalf of the Hon. Prime Minister who is currently on his way back to Suva this morning, it gives me great pleasure to join you today to officially open the new Wainikoro Government Station. 
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the outset, I would like to acknowledge the work of the Ministry of Rural & Maritime Development & Disaster Management through its Integrated Rural Development Framework (IRDF) and its 10-Year Strategic Development Plan (SDP) to ensure that Government continues to expand and decentralize its service delivery to our remote rural communities with the goal of ensuring that no one is left behind as we progress towards a better Fiji for all.
 
This investment is consistent with Government’s committed objectives through its National Development Plan (NDP) of promoting equal and inclusive opportunities and access to service delivery, at the same bridging the development gap between the rural and urban areas. It will also strengthen the Government inter-agency coordination in terms of facilitation of government service delivery and program implementation. In addition to the Government ministries and departments already stationed here, other Government services such as Birth, Death, and Marriages (BDM), social welfare, business registration and JP services will be made available closer to home from today and this is a living testimony of Government not just listening to the people, but actually taking concrete actions to ensure people’s needs are met.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, Government does not believe in a Fiji where people in our most remote rural communities have to access the basic services of Government miles away from their doorsteps. This is why we have invested $1.1million to build this new Government station. This is expected to benefit more than (4) tikinas of Nadogo, Namuka, Dogotuki, and Udu, including Cikobia from this new Government Station with a population of around 19,830, in 35 villages and 14 settlements.
 
Time and again, I have continuously emphasized on the strength and potentials in rural Fiji in contributing towards economic growth and the Wainikoro administrative area is no exception. With more than 800 farmers expected to benefit from this new investment by Government, I am pleased to note that this could also be the key to unlocking major economic potentials that have been left untapped for decades.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, in keeping abreast with the modern development trend, the Fijian Government is moving towards digitizing majority of its services and this establishment will ensure that our rural Fijians have easy access to these online services. These includes services such as online business registrations, agriculture assistance and other BDM services, to name a few. Additionally, I am excited to inform you all today that in our bid to move our services online, the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management will soon have its assistance forms available online through our website. This will mean our rural Fijians can apply for assistance offered by the Ministry at a click of a button from the comfort of their homes. If you may not have access to smartphones and other devices, I am also pleased to tell you that you can still access these services from this office right here, with the assistance of our district officers.
 
Ladies and gentlemen, in ensuring that rural Fijians have the same level of access to services available in our urban centres, the Ministry also plans to expand its services by accommodating other essential Government services at the Tukavesi, Saqani Government Stations in Cakaudrove and Kubulau Government Station in Bua.
 
With these few words, I now declare this Station officially open.
 
Vinaka vakalevu and Thank you very much