Caption: Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka, Divisional Planning Officer (DPO) Northern Mr. Setareki Dakuiboca, Provincial Administrator (PA) Cakaudrove Mr. Ilisoni Lagi and District Officer (DO) Taveuni Mr. Abdul Hakim with District Advisory Councilors serving in communities across Taveuni.
TAVEUNI – District Advisory Councilors (DAC) serving in communities across Taveuni have been reminded about the importance of the role they play in being an extension of the arm of Government in their community.
In addressing DAC members during a meeting in Waiyevo, Taveuni earlier this month, Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka highlighted the importance of the DAC’s role in informing the Government’s interventions at the community level, especially in improving the lives of people in rural communities.
“You and I and members of the Ministry are one team, and what we are tasked to do is to ensure that the lives of those in our rural areas are supported and the services that the Government is supposed to provide for them are provided effectively and efficiently. It is your responsibility as District Advisory Councilors to make the connection with the communities and the Ministry and guide us in our interventions,” Hon. Ditoka stated.
“Let us know if there are problems, and at the same time, make suggestions to us on what should be done to improve the lives of those in the rural areas.”
Minister Ditoka reiterated that it was the dream of any Government to ensure Fijians living in rural communities across Fiji enjoyed the same level of access to services enjoyed by those living in urban centers.
“That is the aim. So we continue to move forward to try and get that done. Some areas are slower than others, and we just have to see what we can do so that the lives of people living in such communities are bearable; they can continue to move on as we look at the priorities that the Government has. The priorities that we have might not be the priorities that the Government has set out. There might be a few differences in some priorities.”
“Our responsibility is that we continue to stress to the people that help will be coming, in its own time. The fact that it won’t come in a particular financial year does not mean it won’t come. It will come, but maybe a little bit later.”
Hon. Ditoka met with the Taveuni DAC members during his weeklong tour of the island earlier this month.
Caption:A DAC member contributes to a meeting with the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka in Taveuni.
