200 communities and about 41,000 Fijians across the four divisions have benefited through the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development rural projects.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development, Inia Seruiratu while responding to the Assistant Minister for Sugar, George Vegnathan’s question in parliament on how Government investments in the rural areas have improved living standards in rural and maritime communities.
He says $1.25 million has been allocated to the Ministry in the last two financial years to address high priority water and sanitation programs.
Seruiratu says they are currently into the second cycle of development where some of the water projects done previously are no longer meeting the demand because the demands have increased.
He adds that they have also seen the upgrading of sub-divisional hospitals to provide access to basic health care and medications.
The Minister says his Ministry is committed to restoring, upgrading and building new roads, bridges and jetties through its rural programs.
Seruiratu says investment in roads alone has increased from $26 million in 2015 to $39 million in 2018 and in the last three financial years since 2018, a total of $76 million was allocated towards jetty replacement programs and upgrading of rural roads.
He says they have progressively invested in rural electrification through grid extensions and the installation of solar home systems.
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