Koronivia residents thank A-G for response
Anumber of issues such as taxi permits, and the issuance of fishing licences were brought to the attention of Acting Prime Minister and AttorneyGeneral Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in Koronivia on Monday night.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum had attended a Hindu prayer session held for Krishna Janamashthmi in Kabutri Drive in Korovinia where he held a talanoa session with residents for three hours.
Taxi driver Nilesh Maharaj told the Fiji Sun this was the first time a senior Government Minister had sat with community members and really listened to their concerns and clarified issues.
“I had a different view about the opening of taxi permits but after it was explained in detail by Mr Sayed-Khaiyum I came to know better how this would work out. This is the first time ever for such a senior Minister to sit down with us and talk about so many things,” he said.
Taking charge of the meeting also was the President of Vishva Hindu Prishad Rewa branch, former radio personality Roneel Narayan.
A fisherman from the area raised concerns that fishing licences issued were not for 12 months.
He said if he received a licence in June, it would expire on January 1 and was not valid for the entire 12 months which was the case for most other licences. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum took note of the issue and assured the community that it would be looked into.
Another issue raised was the closure of the community Police post in Koronivia. This was closed after the landowner wanted his land back. A state land has been identified where the new Police post would be built soon.
Divisional Police Commander East Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Singh was also part of the gathering.
He informed people that he had started work on $4000 per annum. In recent days, their salary scale has come up to a decent standard.
He said previously, there were only four vehicles at the Nausori Police Station. Today, they have 28 vehicles and he thanked Mr Sayed-Khaiyum for the continuing support Government has extended towards the Force in recent years.
In some four years, Government intends to staff each community post with one Corporal, 12 regular police constables and four special constables.
Mr Singh further explained that the Police Academy in Nasova can train five hundred new recruits every year. In the coming years, there will be enough officers to sufficiently man all Police posts in the country.