84 communities in Western Division receive Multi-Ethnic Grants

Eighty-four communities in the Western Division will benefit from the Multi-Ethnic Grant Programme after receiving funding to support various community projects.

The grants were handed over by the Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage, Arts and Public Enterprises, Charan Jeath Singh to community-based organisations across Sigatoka, Nadi and Lautoka as part of the first round of disbursement for the 2025–2026 financial year.

The Ministry says that for the 2025–2026 financial year, the total allocation for the programme has increased to $2 million, an increase of $700,000 compared with the previous financial year.

They says the grants support initiatives aimed at strengthening community development while promoting cultural and religious harmony.

Mohammed Nazim of the Fiji Muslim League Meigunyah Branch in Nadi acknowledged the Government’s support for a cemetery upgrade and accessibility project.

He says community members, especially women, have faced many challenges when attending prayer functions at the mosque and when visiting the cemetery.

Nazim says the project will greatly improve accessibility and safety for those attending prayers and burial ceremonies, while also benefiting seven to eight surrounding communities.

While handing over the grants, Singh highlighted that the programme remains the Ministry’s flagship initiative, supporting numerous community-based organisations by empowering and strengthening them to preserve and promote culture, religion and shared human values.

Singh says they are honoured to have the opportunity to serve and uplift communities through the programme.

He says the initiative continues to receive strong interest from communities across the country, adding that such projects play an important role in strengthening social cohesion, community participation and national unity.

Singh also highlighted that the Ministry implemented a strict three-tier assessment and verification process, involving Ministry staff, a Directors’ Panel, and the Permanent Secretary’s Panel, to ensure fairness and transparency in the allocation of grants.

He says the funded initiatives include fencing, water management systems, equipment procurement, musical instruments, accessibility improvements, renovation works, shed materials, event organisation, learning and development programmes, cemetery upgrades, solar projects, borehole installations and other community-based activities.