Councillors reminded of their roles
MEMBERS of the District Advisory Council (DAC) in Cakaudrove were reminded of their roles towards the Government’s development efforts in a recent meeting.
Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu said the councillors played a pivotal role in gathering data from their communities that would assist the Government in working with its development partners.
Mr Seruiratu said data played an integral role in the implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
“Right now we have the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the office and let me emphasise this, we are connected to the global issues and what drives global issues are the sustainable development goals (SDGs). In the implementation of these SDGs, what’s important is data,” he said.
“We do a lot of activities, but we don’t capture information and that’s a challenge for developing countries like us, and we are trying to improve on that.
“This is also why councillors are requested to provide reports and if there’ll be surveys, I hope you will co-operate.”
He said sorting the data would be beneficial for Fiji in the long term.
He reiterated the Government had appointed them as development partners to assist in its development programs and as DAC members they should play their part in assisting Government’s efforts through the submission of timely reports.
“When it comes to partners and if we are going to ask for taxpayers’ money from another country, it is a matter of justification and justification is through facts and data.”
Mr Seruiratu also acknowledged the DAC members for their contribution and support towards government’s development programs.