Salutation
- Vaka Turaga saka kina dela ni vanua o Jilivalevu vua na Gone Turaga na Tui Nubu,
- Vaka Turaga saka talega kina vanua o Jilivasewa vua na Gone Turaga na Tui Cawanisa,
- Na vanua o Taladrau ki vua na Gone Turaga na Tui Nadrau,
- Na vanua o Nabuobuco ki vua na Gone Turaga na Tui Nabuobuco,
- Na vanua o Navatusila ki vua na Gone Turaga na Tui Navatusila,
- Na ilesilesi ni Bose ko Viti, Turaga na iTalatala Qase Ni Wasewase,
- Honourable Ministers and Permanent Secretaries,
- Divisional Commissioners,
- Distinguished Guests,
- Government Officials,
- Members of the Media, and
- Ladies and Gentlemen.
Ni Sa Bula Vina’a and a very good morning to you all.
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we stand today, ki Tilivalevu vua na Momo Na iTaukei Nubu and I pay my respects to their Chiefs, past, present, and emerging leaders; and acknowledge their enduring role within the Vanua, We are grateful for their custodianship, which allows us to convene for this important occasion.
Introduction
- It is a great privilege and honour to be present here this morning as we celebrate several important milestones that reflect Government’s continued commitment towards bringing development closer to our people, particularly those living in our rural and maritime communities.
- Today, we officially commission the newly constructed Nadarivatu District Office and refurbished staff quarters, commemorate World Rural Development Day 2026, and launch the Government Roadshow. Collectively, these initiatives represent a practical demonstration of Government’s commitment to decentralising services, strengthening community access, and ensuring that every Fijian, regardless of where they live, has the opportunity to participate in and benefit from Fiji’s development journey.
- This occasion is therefore not only about opening a building; it is about opening doors of opportunity. It is about ensuring that Government services, information, programmes, and support mechanisms are brought closer to the people who need them most.
- Development cannot be achieved if communities remain distant from the institutions that serve them. Through investments such as this, Government is strengthening the connection between the State and its citizens, empowering communities to access opportunities, make informed decisions, and contribute meaningfully towards our national aspirations
Nadarivatu Government Station
- With roots dating back to the late 1800s, the Nadarivatu District Office serves as a prominent establishment since the colonial days.
- It boasts a history that has surpassed periods of struggle and triumph to evolve into a modern administrative hub that is dedicated to serving the needs of our rural communities.
- Fiji’s National Development Plan 2025–2029, Vision 2050, and the globally recognised Sustainable Development Goals, reinforce the need to sustainably strengthen the resilience of rural and outer island communities for nation building.
- Ladies and Gentlemen, it is under this shared vision that Government has invested approximately $1 million towards the construction of this new office and the refurbishment of the staff quarters.
- This investment represents more than physical infrastructure. It represents Government’s commitment to strengthening its presence in rural Fiji and ensuring that our public officers have the appropriate facilities and working environment required to deliver quality services effectively and efficiently.
- A modern and functional Government station enables our officers to work closer with communities, understand their challenges firsthand, and provide timely assistance on matters relating to livelihoods, development programmes, business opportunities, social services, disaster resilience, and access to Government support.
- The Nadarivatu District Office serves as a critical link for more than 5,000 community members from over 20 villages across the Savatu, Naboubuco, Navatusila and Nadrau Districts. Through this strengthened presence, Government is ensuring that rural communities are not left behind but are actively connected to the opportunities and services required to improve their quality of life.
- The refurbishment of the staff quarters is equally important. By providing suitable accommodation for Government officers, we strengthen our ability to retain skilled personnel in rural locations and ensure continuity of services. A Government presence must not only exist physically; it must be sustained through committed people who live, work, and serve alongside the communities.
Back in Time
- In May this year, we commemorated Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day, honouring a great statesman and visionary leader who laid the structural foundations of modern Fiji.
- It is his legacy that reminds us all of the paramount importance of inclusive rural development and ensuring every community across Fiji is empowered to thrive and grow.
- These quarters carry a profound historical significance, given that the late Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna resided here during his distinguished tenure. It is therefore vital that this historic residence is restored and preserved.
- In preserving this important site, we are not only recognising our history but reaffirming our responsibility to continue the work of strengthening rural development, improving opportunity, and ensuring that communities throughout Fiji have the means to prosper.
- The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management will work in partnership with other key Government ministries and agencies to ensure that this station becomes a fully operational hub, where different agencies collectively deliver services and programmes more efficiently, to subsequently improve Government responsiveness to the needs of communities.
- This whole-of-Government approach is necessary to strengthen Government’s presence and the coordination of development initiatives that directly address the unique vulnerabilities and socio-economic priorities of our rural communities.
- By bringing Government closer to communities, we create greater awareness of available programmes, improve access to assistance, and enable citizens to participate more actively in national development.
World Rural Development Day
- Ladies and gentlemen, today’s programme is even more meaningful as we commemorate World Rural Development Day 2026 and recognise the importance of rural communities as vital contributors to Fiji’s economic and social progress.
- Rural development is not simply about addressing challenges; it is about unlocking potential. Our rural communities possess significant strengths through their land, oceans, culture, traditional knowledge, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism assets and entrepreneurial spirit.
- With this year’s theme focused on “Towards Vibrant, Prosperous and Happy Rural Communities”, it reminds us that when communities are empowered with the right infrastructure, knowledge, market access, financial support and Government services, they become engines of economic growth.
- The vision of achieving sustained economic growth of 6 percent annually and progressing Fiji towards High-Income Country status by 2050 will not be achieved by Government alone. It requires every community, every household, every entrepreneur, every farmer, fisher, worker and young person to participate in building our economic future
- It is about creating real opportunities for a child who wishes to pursue tertiary level education, a mother who seeks reliable maternal healthcare closer to home or a father striving to secure a sustainable market for his crops. All of these individual aspirations are collective visions that together we must strive to realise.
Vuvale Partnership
- Ladies and Gentlemen, the recent signing of the Vuvale Union represents a significant milestone in Fiji’s international partnerships and reinforces our shared commitment towards cooperation, resilience, prosperity and regional stability.
- The Union provides an important platform to strengthen cooperation in areas that directly benefit our people, including economic development, trade and investment, climate resilience, skills development, institutional strengthening, and people-to-people connections.
- Importantly, partnerships of this nature must translate into meaningful outcomes for ordinary Fijians. The agreed work plan for the next decade is aimed exactly at these goals -improved health services, law enforcement, infrastructure, education and pathways for communities to access opportunities, expand markets for local products, strengthen business linkages, enhance skills, and support sustainable economic activities.
- The work we undertake here in Nadarivatu directly reflects this vision — ensuring that communities have the support systems, information and Government presence necessary to participate in Fiji’s development journey.
- Through better utilisation of our natural resources, including our land, ocean resources, agricultural potential, forests and tourism opportunities, we can create sustainable livelihoods while protecting these assets for future generations
Mini Government Roadshow
- Meaningful and sustainable development requires collective partnerships between Government, traditional leaders, communities, development partners, civil society and the private sector to deliberately drive inclusive national growth.
- Without which, the disparities between our urban and rural-maritime communities will continue to widen, thereby hindering our collective efforts to ensure that development and growth are equitably felt by all Fijians, regardless of their geographical location or background.
- Today’s mini roadshow demonstrates Government’s commitment to bringing essential public services directly to your doorstep, breaking down the barriers of distance, transportation and cost that so often isolate our rural and maritime communities.
- By consolidating essential Government ministries under a single umbrella, we are dismantling bureaucratic silos and making it simpler, faster and more affordable for our citizens to access the vital services they need.
Conclusion
- I encourage all communities present today to actively engage with Government representatives, seek information, understand available programmes, and identify opportunities that can strengthen your families, villages and communities.
- Your participation is essential because national development is a shared responsibility. Government can create the environment, provide the infrastructure and establish the policies, but sustainable progress depends on communities taking ownership and transforming opportunities into results.
- As we look towards Fiji’s Vision 2050 and our ambition to become a high-income nation, every community has a role to play. The future of Fiji will be built not only in our cities, but also in our villages, rural settlements and maritime communities.
- It gives me great pleasure to officially commission the Nadarivatu Government Station and refurbished staff quarters and declare open the 2026 Government Roadshow.
- May this facility continue to serve as a symbol of partnership between Government and the people — a place where opportunities are created, services are delivered, and communities are empowered to contribute towards a stronger, more prosperous Fiji.
- May God bless you all and may God bless Fiji.
