The Tui Macuata, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, is urging the people of the Friendly North to work with him to make Labasa a city by 2025.
Ratu Wiliame made the call during the house warming celebration of Vinesh Dayal, the owner of Hotel NorthPole, where Ratu Wiliame was chief guest.
He told guests that many positive changes and developments had taken place in the Northern Division in the past five years.
“The business level in Labasa has moved to another level, we now see lots of movement of people and more buildings,” Ratu Williame said.
“Before there used to be two hotels in Labasa and now we have more hotels and at times all rooms are occupied. Thank you to Mr Dayal for building another Hotel NorthPole in Labasa.”
Ratu Williame believes the people’s mindset has changed and everyone wanted to live a good life.
“People in the villages are having their own kitchen and they are coming to Labasa Town to buy sink,” he said.
“They are trying to live a lifestyle that the urban dwellers are enjoying. To me this is improvement and I am happy to see such changes.
“I would like to urge young entrepreneurs in Macuata to stay and make investment.
Already there are lot of development taking place and there are lot more to come,” he said.
The Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Parveen Kumar, has commended the chief for his bold and visionary statement.
“People in Macuata should support him and work with him,” Mr Kumar said.
“Government is always there to support you. To have a city there is a procedure to follow.
“A town needs to have a required number of population, facilities and amenities to make a city. Right now we are changing Nadi town into a city and in years to come why not Labasa.”