The Steward Alliance on Resources (SAOR), comprising the Fiji Council of Churches, the Social Empowerment Education Program (SEEP) and concerned landowners have raised concerns with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives and SMEs Manoa Kamikamica about some major development happening in their areas.
SEEP Fiji Executive Director Chantelle Khan says the Alliance is grateful for the opportunity to meet with national leaders and they recognize that their willingness to meet them shows an openness that they deeply appreciate.
She says the Alliance acknowledges the efforts made by the coalition government, especially in creating an extensive National Development Plan (NDP) through inclusive consultation, however, as a vision for the next 5 years, the Alliance urges for consideration and patience, particularly regarding concerns of local communities.
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong says there is a need to walk the talk of a People-Centred Development, which references one of the Pacific Islands Forum thematic areas in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific.
He says the People Centred Development expresses well the mind of the Catholic Framework for the Economic Life as the economy exist for the person, and not the person for the economy.
The concerns of the Alliance include unsustainable resource exploitation, division among citizens, and holding investors accountable.
Dominika Nariva of Namosi raised that while it may be easy for the government to welcome investment, they can provide real-life evidence that development, as it stands, is not working for their children and women.
Minister Manoa Kamikamica says they had a delightful and fruitful discussion with the Alliance.
Kamikamica assured the members of the Alliance that the Government would look into their grievances.
