Residents in the outskirts of Labasa have raised a number of issues with the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum during talanoa sessions held in their communities.
Sayed-Khaiyum together with officials from various agencies met with residents of Lagalaga, Kulukulu, Naikilikoso and Bocalevu.
Among the issues raised were water, electricity, farm and cane access roads and accessing assistance provided by the government for farms and businesses.
After initial discussions with the Lagalaga community, which consists mainly of sugarcane growers who had raised the issue of not having enough labour to harvest sugarcane two weeks ago, the Commissioner of Fiji Corrections Service, Commander Francis Kean accompanied Sayed-Khaiyum to meet with the community this week.
Commander Kean assured them that they will be able to assist from this season as they do in the Western Division.
Water Authority of Fiji’s Chief Executive Officer, Barry Omundson also got to hear first-hand the challenges the communities face in accessing water.
Omundson highlighted some of the temporary measures that WAF will undertake to provide relief while it works out a longer-term solution.
Staff from Energy Fiji Limited have also taken note of how certain homes in these communities did not have electricity due to miscommunication and that certain areas will require further work.
Sayed-Khaiyum told these communities that while in a lot of instances it is a matter of putting requests in writing and following up, there are some that will require a lot more work and more budgetary allocation.
He says the government has continued to invest in rural communities and the Ministry of Agriculture is the only Ministry that did not receive a reduction in the budget after COVID-19.
Sayed-Khaiyum also emphasised to the officials accompanying him that all these communities need to be kept informed.
He says it is critical to have the communication channel open even when people won’t be assisted immediately as from the discussions, it is apparent that many are frustrated with the lack of response.
[Images: Fijian Govt.]