Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has reminded the Ba Provincial Council members of the importance of cultural preservation and development for the province.
While opening the Provincial Council Meeting, Rabuka says the government's ongoing efforts and recent achievements on the successful presentation of the budget last week, is set to take effect in August.
Rabuka acknowledges the challenges faced during its formulation, including the burden of existing debt and the impact of global economic conditions, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, which has driven up the cost of living.
The Prime Minister says they are looking into law and governance, and the ongoing discussions to review Fiji's judiciary and modernize archaic laws inherited from British colonial rule, and also mentioned the importance of aligning legal frameworks with indigenous customs and traditions while being guided by English common law principles.
He spoke about the abolition of certain laws, such as the Media Industry Development Act, promoting freedom of the press while acknowledging the challenges of media critique directed towards the Fiji Government.
He also highlighted the urgent issue of climate change, and he urged the people of Ba to heed the advice from relevant authorities and emphasized the responsibility of traditional leaders within the province in making informed decisions to combat this global challenge.
He adds the Ba Provincial Council Meeting served as a platform to reinforce the importance of cultural heritage, discuss key areas of development, and foster unity among the attendees and government with the common goal towards progress.
There is a total of 21 representative districts that will be part of the Council Meeting for these two days.
The meeting is held at Soso Village, Naviti in Yasawa.
A traditional welcoming ceremony was also accorded to the Prime Minister.
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