1. GOVT COMMENDS CITY COUNCIL INITIATIVE – The decision by the Lautoka City Council to provide sleeping spaces for market vendors in Lautoka has been commended by Government.
2. FICAC TO TAKE ON MUNICIPAL COUNCIL STAFF – The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) will soon embark on a community based approach and will train municipal council staff on FICAC’s role.
3. $0.5 MILLION FACELIFT FOR MALOLO – Villagers on Malolo Island will soon enjoy fully refurbished homes after the approval of a $0.5 million loan from Housing Authority.
1 GOVT COMMENDS CITY COUNCIL INITIATIVE
The decision by the Lautoka City Council to provide sleeping spaces for market vendors in Lautoka has been commended by Government.
Minister for Local Government Samuela Saumatua says the decision by the city council “is a move in the right direction” and one that will ease the burden of farmers who travel far to sell their produce.
Minister Saumatua said the opening of a ‘home stay’ style accommodation will also ensure the safety of market vendors especially women who have had to travel long distances between their communities to sell their produce. Often, market vendors sleep on pavements outside the market in Lautoka to be able to sell their goods for more than two days.
“This move by LCC is welcoming and sets the platform for other municipalities to follow,” he said.
In 2012, the Minister for Defence Mr Joketani Cokanasiga opened an overnight accommodation in Rakiraki for market vendors. At that event, Minister Cokanasiga praised the resilience of women around the country who continue to work hard to support their families and communities.
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2 FICAC TO TAKE ON MUNICIPAL COUNCIL STAFF
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) will soon embark on a community based approach and will train municipal council staff on FICAC’s role.
The Minister for Local Government and Urban Development Samuela Saumatua said this was part of his ministry’s commitment to exposing corrupt activities and at the same time, to create awareness for stakeholders.
Lautoka City will be the first municipal council to have its staff undergo this training and in return, the council will assist FICAC in its operations.
“We have had a lot of complaints on corruption against municipal council staff but with these developments, we will certainly see more transparency from our municipal councils,” he said.
The Minister said that in the coming months, other municipal councils will follow Lautoka council.
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3 $0.5 MILLION FACELIFT FOR MALOLO
Villagers on Malolo Island will soon enjoy fully refurbished homes after the approval of a $0.5 million loan from Housing Authority.
Housing Authority chief executive officer Alipate Naiorosui said, “We are pleased to provide the Mataqali Ketenamasi with the loan facility to upgrade and repair 28 existing homes as well as the church building”.
The facelift project which will take 6 months to complete includes changing the roofs, window frames, glass louver blades, ceiling boards, plumbing, kitchen shelves and doors.
Naiorosui said, “The upgrading and facelift to the interior and exterior of the houses will ensure that these villagers enjoy a modern standard of living on the Island as well as ensure safety during adverse weather conditions”.
Cyclone screws and anchor down brackets are being used as part of the reconstruction process and cyclone shutters will also be installed.
The 28 houses were initially built through a Village Housing Scheme loan which was paid off in 2005.
The Village Housing Scheme from Housing Authority enables people living in villages to use their lease money through TLTB to either build or make improvements to their village houses.
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