Civil servants, students, small business owners, and villagers near the Tukavesi Government Station in Cakaudrove Province have benefited from the launch of Starlink satellite internet by the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management.
Tukavesi is one of many areas known for poor network coverage, where people have long faced problems accessing reliable internet.
The Ministry of Rural Development says for years, government officers at the Tukavesi Government Station, led by the Assistant District Officer, had to rely on other agencies to access the internet.
The Ministry says this new technological advancement now enables them to carry out their operations more efficiently and independently.
Tukavesi is one of 10 remote rural Government Stations selected by the Ministry to receive Starlink internet; this has been made possible with funding support from the UNDP Pacific’s Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific Programme.
The Ministry says this initiative will allow civil servants to access real-time information and improve communication with headquarters, while also opening digital opportunities for nearby communities.
The Ministry adds that, alongside the new internet connection, special Financial Literacy Training was provided to community members, particularly women and youth.
They say the training was delivered by the Reserve Bank of Fiji and covered important topics such as setting SMART goals, managing money, budgeting, building confidence, and parametric insurance.
The Ministry further says that participants learned about digital financial services, how to identify scams, investment options, and the benefits of making voluntary contributions to the Fiji National Provident Fund.
Viliame Cama, from Buca who sells roti, juice, and sandwiches at Vatuyalewa Jetty, welcomed the training, saying that it was very useful and came at the right time - especially for small business owners in rural areas.
He says people now live in a time when everything is going digital, and this kind of support is exactly what they need.
Cama says small business owners often find it difficult to manage money and grow their businesses, and the training has helped him learn important things that will help him make better decisions and improve his small business.
70-year-old Aisake Leqeua from Tukavesi Village, also welcomed the training, describing it as a useful tool to help rural Fijians manage their money more effectively.
He says that for people in the village, this knowledge is very helpful, and they now know how to plan, save, and use their money more wisely.
This partnership between the Ministry, the Reserve Bank of Fiji, and the UNDP reflects the Government’s commitment to supporting inclusive development and digital access for all Fijians.
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