Lekutu Govt Station in Bua and nearby communities can access internet through the installation of Starlink satellite

Great news for civil servants at Lekutu Government Station in Bua and nearby communities as they now have better internet access after connecting to Starlink satellite internet.

The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development highlighted that this is part of its plan to close the digital gap and support rural development.

Lekutu is the sixth remote government station chosen by the Ministry to get Starlink internet, and the project is funded by the UNDP Pacific’s Gov4Res Programme.

The Ministry says this will help civil servants get real-time information and stay in touch with their headquarters.

They say it will also ensure nearby communities get the chance to use the internet.

The Ministry also held financial literacy training for local farmers and villagers, with assistance from the Reserve Bank of Fiji, which taught participants how to manage money, save, budget, and understand insurance and banking services.

Divisional Secretary Northern Maria Keavali says rural development is not just about roads and buildings but also about giving people digital skills and financial knowledge.

She says the aim is to create opportunities, and by offering both internet and training, the Ministry wants to help people make smart choices, improve their lives, and use the development to help them in the best way.

55-year-old vegetable and livestock farmer Mohammed Farukh says the internet and training will help farmers like him.

He says older farmers often find it difficult to access the right information to improve their farming and manage money.

Farukh says that while internet access is useful, financial training is even more important and something they have needed for a long time.

Another participant, 72-year-old Vitinia Naba Lee from Votua Village, who runs a small business selling body scrubs, says the training was much needed because as an older person, she found it hard to manage her business and finances.

She says now she feels more confident, especially with better internet access.

Meanwhile, the Ministry is also working with its partners to establish an M-PAiSA agent near the Lekutu Government Station to improve access to financial services for civil servants and communities in the area.