The Fijian Government has stepped forward and pledged its support towards the first Yavusa (tribe) that has come up with its very own first financing Strategic Revitalisation Plan for the year 2018-2022.

The Yavusa Navakavu of Rewa’s $25m plan provides a framework to support the people of Navakavu’s development and to progress in its fundamental mission to improve the quality of life of the vanua.

Its vision is – “building a resilient Navakavu – O Navakavu Qoi” that embodies the character of the vanua to embrace and facilitate develop­ment within and work closely with the Government and stakeholders.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainima­rama, speaking at the High-Level Pledging Conference at Novotel Suva Lami Bay yesterday, said they were committed to the success of the community, to children’s suc­cess and the success of future gen­erations.

“We are here because we recognise that there is immense opportunity in a growing Fijian economy and we want to put the Yavusa o Navakavu in the best possible position to real­ise those opportunities,” Mr Baini­marama said.

He said he wanted the people to play an even bigger role in Fiji’s national development and to see an even greater share of the country’s success.

He said yesterday marked the be­ginning of the Navakavu Revitalisa­tion, a plan that was built upon the strategic blueprint laid out in Fiji’s five-year and 20-year National De­velopment Plan.

“Your revitalisation plan is a cul­mination of your vision, your pri­orities and your wisdom and it is an incredibly important document be­cause real progress takes planning,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Bainimarama reiterated that Fiji was improving and changing for the better and under him with the Fijian Constitution, iTaukei land was protected for all time.

“Under past governments we saw iTaukei land being sold off entirely, lost forever from its rightful owners. Those days are over,” he said.

“Today, 91 per cent of land in Fiji is owned by the iTaukei, and not one inch of that land has been lost un­der my leadership.”

He added that land was no longer a political tool in Fiji, it was now a source of prosperity.

“Every day we are assisting more iTaukei people to become more fi­nancially powerful by developing their land and making the most pro­ductive use of it,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“Your community has proven that you are very serious about working with my Government and your fel­low Fijians to make your full contri­bution to our national development.

“And I assure you, that when you do put your ideas into action, my Government will always be there to support you.”

Yavusa consultant Jovilisi Su­veinakama said the plan came about when they were trying to deal with businesses stakeholders who want­ed to have joint ventures with the Yavusa.

Mr Suveinakama said they found out that they did not have a clear guideline to follow when they sat with these business people to nego­tiate terms and conditions of these joint ventures.

“It was a request by the Vanua to the Turaga ni Vanua for us to move forward, so we started working on the first Navakavu strategic plan,” he said.

“The vanua, like any other, has a lot of assets and not enough money and to begin the coordination of the plan, we want to get the money first and decide what to do.”

Mr Suveinama said the pledge to support the plan was open to anyone and the Yavusa.

“We are at crossroads with Govern­ment, normally in a village setting we have to go through the Bose ni Vanua and Yasana, but we are lead­ing the way in this. There is a lot of work in this.”

Edited by Epineri Vula

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