Residents in the rural areas around the country have envisaged the 20-year development priorities plan to include 100 percent mobile connectivity in their province, as a pathway to development.
During the consultations conducted by the Ministry of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics around the country yesterday, residents stated that connectivity remains an eminent issue.
Head of Strategic Planning Office within the Ministry Kamal Krishnan Gounder says they are travelling around the country to gather views and feedback on the development objectives, strategies and programmes outlined in the draft plan.
Gounder says one of the common issues that people raised was mobile connectivity.
He says during the meeting in Namosi, residents also raised about challenges faced by the farm access road, where farmers are unable to access farmlands in the interior of Namosi.
A total of nine consultation meetings were held yesterday and in the medium- and long-term development plan, the people requested the government to consider access to electricity, connection to grid extension, improvements in road infrastructure, sporting facilities, repair and maintenance of Irish crossings, access to clean drinking water and renovation of community halls that serve as an evacuation centre.
In the Western Division, residents of Nalebaleba highlighted access to clean water as a major challenge faced in the Western Division.
Gounder says the community has a dam, but the water catchment is too small and is not sufficient to cater for all in the village.
He adds requests were also made for the construction of a bridge between Tuva and Bemana which will allow accessibility to students who reside on the other side of the river to Bemana Catholic School and aid farmers to transport vegetables to the market.
Gounder says for the meetings held in Ovalau, the communities raised concerns about the need to upgrade roads, water, drainage, coastal protection works and the health infrastructure (morgue).
He says these consultations serve as a crucial platform for community voices to be heard, informing the formulation of policies and strategies within the new National Development Plan.
The public consultation meetings will continue today.
Central Division (4 meetings) • Vashist Muni College Hall - 9.00am to 11.00am • Ratu Simione Matanitobua College - 12.00pm to 2.00pm • Wainadoi Settlement Hall - 3.00pm to 5.00pm • Chauhan Memorial Primary School - 3.00pm to 5.00pm
Northern Division (2 meetings) • Nawaisomo Village Hall, Wainunu, Bua - 10.00am to 12.00pm • Ratu Luke Memorial High School, Wainunu, Bua - 10.00am to 12.00pm
