Roko Tui Tailevu Iliesa Delasau has advised the people of Tailevu that the Tailevu Provincial Office will continue to look for more funds to assist them with climate change issues in the province.

This comes after Tokatoka District Representative Rusiate Korovusere questioned why the provincial budget for climate change was only around $4000.

Mr Korovusere said the budget for the provincial office would not be able to support the more than 100 villages in Tailevu and the 22 districts.

However, Mr Delasau said the allocated amount of budget did not stop the provincial office from seeking funds to help tackle climate change issues.

He said there were avenues to source funding and they included working closely with non-government organisations and other stakeholders who were bidding to tackle climate change.

Mr Delasau said the provincial office and the people of Tailevu needed to work together to combat the effects of climate change.

In an interview with the Fiji Sun, Mr Korovusere said they acknowledged the provincial office’s effort in helping them tackle issues affecting their people.

“What I want is for the district representatives to also understand the real meaning of climate change, the importance of protecting our village shorelines and looking into how we can tackle climate change,” Mr Korovusere said.

He said it was important not to always depend on Government handouts, but villagers could also contribute by raising funds, etc.

Mr Korovusere also urged the Government to look into other issues that affected their environment such as waste management.

He said at the moment villagers continued to bury rubbish and others threw them into the sea, and this caused detrimental environmental problems.

He added that climate change had affected the district of Tokatoka – their farms being filled with water during high tide and heavy rain.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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