The lives of three fishermen will change as they will benefit from the Seafarers Entrepreneurial Assistance (SEA) Scheme after they received fibreglass boats and engines to support their families.
Jashwant Kumar Prasad of Nalovo Settlement, South Taveuni, was a successful recipient of the SEA Scheme and is grateful as he received a 23 ft fiberglass boat and a 60 HP boat engine.
Prasad says his new boat and engine will help him earn a few more dollars and look after his family better.
The SEA scheme is a program directed towards purchasing boats and engines on a cost-sharing basis between the applicant and the Government.
Applicants pays one-third while the remaining amount is paid by the Government.
Naivivi Village Turaga Ni Koro, Petero Bera says their main source of income is fishing and transporting people to their destinations.
The Turaga Ni Koro says now he can go fishing and carry passengers from Navivi village to Taveuni, and the new engine will reduce the travelling time for him.
Dhirendra Din of Qarawalu Settlement also received a boat which cost $13,700.
While handing over the boats and engines, Minister for Rural and Maritime Development, Sakiasi Ditoka says that they are trying to stress the need to be connected with the communities through these projects. Ditoka says an example of being connected is the SEA scheme.
He further says the responsibility of the Ministry is to develop the communities and to ensure that the lives of people in rural and maritime communities are improved.
