About 73 percent of people living in Fiji’s rural communities still do not have access to clean drinking water, a reality that the Minister for Public Works, Transport, and Meteorological Services, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, says must urgently change.
He says that the government has drafted Fiji’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan to create a sustainable, climate-resilient water system that supports every Fijian, regardless of where they live.
Speaking at a workshop focused on improving access to clean water from approved and safe sources, Ro Filipe highlighted the need for stronger legislative frameworks and reliable financing models to turn the plan into action.
He says the master plan serves as a clear roadmap for developing rural water and sanitation services.
Tuisawau says it lays out investment priorities, defines institutional roles, and identifies funding strategies to ensure that no community however remote is left behind.
The Minister adds that the plan also prioritises upgrading village water systems so that every household receives safe, treated water.
He adds this includes increasing the number of rainwater harvesting tanks, building solar-powered wells in isolated areas, and testing innovative methods to deliver clean water to island communities.
Tuisawau stresses that, access to clean water is not a privilege it is a basic human right, and this master plan is a promise to make that right a reality for all Fijians.
