Representatives of community resource owners (owners of resources such as gravel, rock, sand, soil and in some cas­es, timber) from the Northern Division have been urged to look after their resources.

They were urged by the Assistant Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Na­tional Disaster Management Joeli Cawaki.

During the closing of the five-day training of trainers workshop on enterprise skills, mar­ket analysis, investment promotion and value addition in the development of the mineral sector in Labasa yesterday, Mr Cawaki encour­aged representatives to also share the knowl­edge they gained with their people.

“We are blessed with a lot of resources, but we need to capitalise resources and turn them into business so that the economy return is fair for the resource owners and investors,” said Mr Cawaki, who is also the Natural Re­source Committee chairman.

“For so long the mataqali (land owning unit) is not aware of business and this training of trainers will surely assist them. They need to get the fair share.

“We are rich in resource, but poor in cash.

Now we are trying to change this.”

Meanwhile, project co-ordinator Josefa Cani­ogo said the workshop provided the opportu­nity for resource owners to create a strong knowledge-base for a sustainable and equita­ble industry.

“This will lay the foundations for resilient long-term growth with other stakeholders,” he said.

“This training should contribute to build­ing the capacity of key stakeholders to better manage the development of minerals, particu­larly by resource owners, who can channel the wealth from these resources into reducing poverty, creating employment and increased investments in infrastructure development.

“The core of trainers involved in the work­shop have a background on small-scale busi­nesses/SMEs, legislative understanding of the Mineral Resources Act and Business Develop­ment Services.

“Fiji is one of six focus countries globally undertaking in-depth capacity building and country level training on the development of minerals, which is delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Re­sources.

“The training was facilitated by the National Centre for Small and Micro Enterprises Devel­opment (NCSMED).

“It was delivered through the ACP-EU De­velopment Minerals Programme which is an initiative by the African, Caribbean, and Pa­cific (ACP) Group of States, co-ordinated by the ACP Secretariat, financed by the European Union (EU) and UNDP, and implemented by UNDP.”

Edited by Percy Kean

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