Macuata House continues to drive provincial progress

Macuata House, a landmark project symbolising progress for the province, is reflecting on the strides it has made and the work that still lies ahead three decades after its opening.

Speaking at the Macuata Provincial Council meeting yesterday held in Nabouono Village, Udu, iTaukei Affairs Board director of operations, Mosese Nakoroi, recalled the initial challenges faced in the early 1990s when the council first embarked on the ambitious development.

“We started with $1.4 million from the Fiji Development Bank,” Mr Nakoroi said.

“There were challenges and struggles, but it laid the foundation for what we have today.”

The completion of Macuata House in 1994 marked a turning point for the province — providing a stable source of income and a base for provincial operations.

Mr Nakoroi said, over the years, the council has managed to generate about $70,000 in revenue to support provincial activities.

“Whatever we earn, we make sure to give back to the Provincial Council,” he explained.

“From 1994 until today, that commitment remains.”

Looking to the future, Mr Nakoroi outlined a new plan to strengthen economic participation at grassroots level. Over the next three years, the council aims to allocate $2000 annually to each of the 12 tikinas (districts) in Macuata.

The initiative, he said, was designed to support local investment and development projects — empowering communities to make their own financial and planning decisions.

“Once the funds are given, it’s up to the tikina to decide how best to use them,” he said.

“They can integrate the funds into their village development plans or invest in projects that align with their community goals.”

According to Mr Nakoroi, the shift from savings to active investment marks a strategic evolution in the province’s approach to sustainable growth.

“We have done the saving part. Now it’s time to start investing,” he said.

“It will take another two years to fully implement, but it’s a step forward. The foundation laid in 1994 is still bearing fruit.”

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