The Assistant Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Honourable Sakiusa Tubuna yesterday urged the villagers of Nabuniikadamu in Wainunu, Bua and Naviavia in Wailevu West, Cakaudrove to be resilient in the face of economic and climate shocks.
While visiting the villagers, Honourable Tubuna stressed the importance of ensuring sustainability through resilient tools such as developing community plans for projects that can generate extra income to improve their livelihoods.
Speaking in the itaukei language, he told the villagers to include priority areas in their plans so that they can attract donor agencies and government for funding assistances.
The plans, he added, should be specified and well-detailed in order to be considered for funding.
This, he said is another way of helping the ordinary people of Fiji to raise their standards of living.
Honourable Tubuna also reminded the villagers to always take the “first step” in providing for their individual families instead of relying on the government for assistance all the time.
The Assistant Minister also took the opportunity to acknowledge the support of the vanua and the villagers towards the people’s coalition government and assured them that they will work with and for the people of Fiji.
The present government, he further highlighted, is here to help everyone in Fiji but it also needs the support of the people in order to create a safer, secure, and prosperous nation.
Nabuniikadamu and Naviavia are two of the places in Fiji that are predominantly occupied by Fijians of Solomon descent.
Honourable Tubuna told the villagers that the government will ensure to look into the interests of these minority groups who have now called Fiji “home”.
He said with the introduction of the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs, the villagers can access this ministry for assistance.
Meanwhile, a talanoa session was held after the ceremony of welcome where the Assistant Minister had the opportunity to brief the villagers about the government’s mandates.
