Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Hon. Professor Biman Prasad was accorded with a warm welcome by the Turaga-ni-Yavusa Solove and the residents of Nukuloa Settlement in Cakaudrove.
Professor Prasad in the stakeholders meeting appreciated the interests of the Yavusa for participating in agriculture and development simultaneously.
He elaborated Governments plan and the National Development Plans focus of getting the basics right along with three year, five year and 20 year plans.
The residents and the Turaga-ni-Yavusa thanked Government for various assistance provided particularly assisting grassroots families with $200 Back-to-School assistance and the various new assistance such as fertilizer and weedicide subsidies.
The residents also shared on lack of drainage and development in rural water supply for the communities over past many years.
Professor Prasad assured the works has commenced and there are various allocations made in this Financial Year to address these.
He said one such allocation is the Ground Water Assistance Program under Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources whereby more than $5M is allocated to drill boreholes around Fiji.
There are other allocations made under Ministry of Sugar and Multi-Ethnic Affairs for small scale community projects for the communities.
Professor Prasad also highlighted the support via increased allocation made for the first time to Ministry of iTaukei Affairs for assisting the indigenous communities in various ways.
