OPENING ADDRESS BY THE HON. PRIME MINISTER SITIVENI RABUKA AT THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE KEIYASI NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Nakuruvakarua vua na Gone Turaga na Kalevu, Na Tui Nadroga
Vanua o Nasaunivalu Matadra na Tui Nasaunivalu
Turaga na iTalatala
Cabinet Ministers
Permanent Secretaries
Tikina Representatives 
Invited guests.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
 
Cola vina, Bula sia, and a very good morning to you all.
 
Today is a historic day for the Turaga na Ka Levu and his people of Nadroga-Navosa, for it marks the start of the development of the newest town in Fiji.
 
It is also a happy occasion for the chiefs and people of Navosa, for Keiyasi Town will open up a lot more services and opportunities in this remote part of the province.
 
Years of long travel down to the town of Sigatoka to access government services, or to sell farm produce will soon be a thing of the past.
 
This welcome development speaks of the foresight and generosity of the chiefs and people of Keiyasi, tikina o Namataku, and the landowning unit of Namoilevu, who have offered the support for this project by their decision to give up little more than 9 hectares of their land to be leased as the site of the new Keiyasi Town.

On behalf of the Coalition Government that I lead, and on behalf of the people of Fiji, I thank and commend you for your charitable spirits and kind gesture.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The development of Keiyasi Town is one of four designated growth centres in Fiji.
 
In addition to Keiyasi here in Navosa, the other three are Nabouwalu and Seaqaqa in Vanua Levu and Korovou (Tailevu) here in Viti Levu.
 
They are part of the Ministry of Local Government’s urban planning and management programme, where growth centres are properly planned and developed before they are established as towns.
 
This is very important, for such towns will diversify the trade and business network, resulting in economic growth that contributes to the rise in the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
 
Such new towns like Keiyasi will open up jobs for the people of Navosa, ultimately leading to the improvement of their living standards.
 
Being a largely farming community, the new town will bring the market closer to the farmers, reducing considerably the high costs of transporting their produce to the Sigatoka Market, some 53 kilometres away.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today’s ground-breaking ceremony of the new Keiyasi Town is Phase 1 of the project.
 
It will see civil work carried out on the site, before phase 2 will kick in, which will see the construction of civic buildings, public amenities like the market, bus stand and public parks.
 
Part of the plan is the development of 27 commercial lots and 4 industrial sites.
 
The cost of Phase 1 is estimated at $11 million, all of this is being funded by the People’s Coalition Government.
 
The contractor, Construction Equipment Hire Limited of Lautoka, together with the Project Manager, West-Eng Consulting Ltd, also from Lautoka hope to complete this 1st phase of work in about 18-months.
 
It is remarkable that local companies with local expertise are taking the lead in this project, and I congratulate the two locally owned companies for winning the bid to develop Keiyasi Town.
 
Vinaka vakalevu as well to the Minister for Local Government and Housing, Honourable Maciu Katamotu and your Permanent Secretary Ms Seema Sharma and your team for the huge work invested in this project.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I find it quite remarkable that the launch of development works for the new Keiyasi Town is taking place on the same week that the People’s Coalition Government is beginning nation-wide consultations for the formulation of a new national development plan for Fiji.
 
Such a development plan is very important as it will foster lasting national unity and shared vision, in addition to the social, economic and political advancement of our nation.
 
This plan should facilitate practical solutions to the social and economic sectors and it will guide the work of the Coalition Government in unlocking the huge potentials that remote regions like Keiyasi have on offer.
 
The work on this nation-wide consultation is being led by the Ministry of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, and I would urge you to make your voice heard and do submit your views when the consultation team calls on your tikina, or district.
 
To conclude, Ladies and Gentlemen.
As work begins today on the creation of the new Keiyasi Town, let it be our prayer and hope that it will live up to its name of being a real growth centre for the chiefs and people of Navosa, that it will be a positive force in fostering unity and love for many generations to come.
 
Vina valevu.