Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad says the Ministry of Local Government is firmly focused on facilitating the town and city council elections next year.
Professor Prasad says the Ministry of Local Government is allocated a sum of $29.3 million in this budget.
He further says a sum of $3.9 million is allocated for the new Savusavu market, around $1 million for the new Nakasi market, $100,000 for the preparatory works for the Dreketi mini-market, $1.3 million for the completion of Levuka market, $3.5 million for the completion of Govind Park and $4.6 million for the completion of the Lautoka Swimming Pool.
The Finance Minister says both Govind Park and Lautoka Swimming Pool projects were very badly planned, managed and executed.
He further says the government is now left with no option but to provide additional funding to complete these projects with increased cost.
The Deputy Prime Minister says they will ensure that the project gets completed in the new financial year and a review will be undertaken by the Ministry of Finance to look at how the projects were implemented, value for money assessment and reasons for the failure of the projects.
He adds to support the Drua team they are allocating $1 million dollars for procurement of enhanced equipment and services required to deliver international quality broadcast required for Drua’s participation in Super Rugby and other international matches.
