The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management this week commenced a training programme in Naweni, Cakaudrove for rural carpenters from around Vanua Levu.

While the training will upskill carpenters in rural communities and teach them ‘build back better’ techniques, it will also qualify participants to construct houses under Government’s Rural Housing Assistance Scheme.

Addressing participants at the launching of the training, Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs, Naipote Katonitabua said that the training programme was in line with Government’s vision to see rural communities build structures that were able to withstand cyclonic conditions and other extreme weather events brought by climate change.

Speaking in the iTaukei language, Mr Katonitabua said that the 20 participants were fortunate to be the first group to benefit and that the programme would roll out in the other locations around Fiji.

With much of Fiji’s rural communities having basic knowledge and experience in basic carpentry, the training will address gaps in understanding the national building codes and the knowledge of safer and more durable structures.

Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Meleti Bainimarama said that the practical for the training involved the construction of one house with the use of Government’s Rural Housing 24×16 house plan which had proved cyclone resistant during Tropical Cyclone Winston.

He said the training in Naweni covers the Northern Division and participants from Cakaudrove, Macuata and Bua were taking part.

Three more trainings will be conducted each in the Eastern, Western and Central Divisions in the coming weeks.

Government has provided a sum of $231,000 to the ministry for the training of rural carpenters in the current financial year.

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