DPM Professor Prasad apologises for the delay in the full rehabilitation of schools hit by Cyclone Yasa

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, and National Development Professor Biman Prasad has apologised for the delay in the full rehabilitation of schools that were badly hit by Tropical Cyclone Yasa in Vanua Levu.

While addressing the Lekutu District School community in Bua, Professor Prasad says as the Ministry in charge of the reconstruction of the schools, they take responsibility and apologise for not being able to fix it in the past two to three years.

Professor Prasad says the damage caused by TC Yasa was extensive and heartbreaking therefore, on behalf of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and the coalition government he assures that they will not neglect Vanua Levu.

He says there has been some lag in the speed with which they could have built some infrastructure that was damaged.

The Deputy Prime Minister further says the school hostel needs urgent and quick attention as students have been occupying some vacant quarters, and using the halls, and the dining hall has been set outside which must change as soon as possible.

He added that the government has set a course to ensure that no part of the country, no section of the community is neglected in the support and development that government needs to provide and how things can improve in these areas.

Professor Prasad says they are currently assessing what urgently needs to be addressed as they are in the process of making the 2023-2024 Budget that will be announced in July.

Lekutu District School is also part of the 9 schools and 2 health facilities under the Fiji Cyclone Recovery Programme for which the Australian Government has provided a further $15.40 million funding for.