Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama made it clear to villagers of Natavea in Naitasiri that his visit to them was not political.

Speaking to the Fiji Sun after the talanoa session with villagers, he said: “My tour here is about development and also to hear from the people what they want to improve their livelihood.” Before the talanoa session started he even sounded a stern reminder that his visit was to talk development and progress of families and communities.

“No politics must be mentioned during this talanoa session,” PM Bainimarama said.

Natavea Village headman (Turaga ni koro) Joji Waqa said since the establishment of the village in 1964, no Government leader had visited the village.

“Mr Bainimarama is the first Prime Minister to visit our village since it was established,” he said.

“Our ancestors, who were involved in establishing the village, have passed on and we are carrying on from where they left off with whatever progress we can make. We are happy with developments that the Bainimarama-led Government has brought to the village.

“The villagers want Government to upgrade their farm road because about 32 farmers are using it.”

Mr Waqa also raised the need to have an evacuation centre in the village to assist villagers during natural disasters.

Prime Minister Bainimarama said there had been many requests for evacuation centres around the country and he assured them of having one.

The Vunivalu of Vuniduba, Taulevu, Naitasiri, Ratu Lepani Roko requested that a water pump to be placed at Vaima in Taulevu. This, he said, would ease the struggle of Taulevu people and villagers nearby in getting water. To solve their water problem they often paid for the transportation of water to the village.

“We pay for the trucks to get water from Vunidawa and back to the village,” he said.

“Otherwise we will go into the forest seeking rivers or creeks to fetch water for cooking, drinking, laundry and shower.”

The PM assured the people of Taulevu that relevant authorities would look into the issue. 

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback:  maikab@fijisun.com.fj