We must keep Water issues ‘still to be Fiji safe, says PM addressed’
PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says that people who are thinking of throwing out the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) are corrupt people.
He said this while addressing the Tailevu Provincial Council meeting in Naisausau Village, Namara, this week.
“The Fiji I lead is the least corrupt our country has ever been,” the PM said.
“We have skyrocketed up the global rankings that assess how well countries fight corruption.
“We established FICAC – the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, which has successfully prosecuted 166 cases in Fiji since 2008.
“These include some serious charges, like larceny, embezzlement, bribery, and theft.”
He urged people at the meeting to refrain from listening to those who run down FICAC.
“Anyone who tells you we need to strip away corruption-fighting institutions like FICAC, is seeking to corrupt the country and enrich themselves.
“We must keep Fiji safe from those who seek to turn our institutions and economy into their own personal piggy banks.
“The mission to make Fiji better and stronger is neverending.
“Today (Thursday) I ask that we all commit to this mission. Our children are counting on it. The vanua demands it.”
Meanwhile, The People’s Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka said as part of their manifesto, they would remove FICAC when they got into power.
The meeting ended yesterday.
PEOPLE in seven villages in Namara District went on to host the Tailevu Provincial Council meeting despite being plagued with water problems.
District representative Savenaca Bakani raised the issue during a talanoa session with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in Naisausau Village, Namara on Thursday.
Mr Bakani thanked the Water Authority of Fiji for providing updates to the forum about water issues within the province but said there were still issues that needed to be addressed.
He said they were told there was a dam at the Namau Water Treatment Plant but piped water from there had not been supplied to villagers.
“The 22 districts in the province have water supply, this is the only district where we are having the meeting right now - where there is hardly any water supply, the chiefly home of the Roko Tui Veikau,” Mr Bakani said.
“But we are thankful that we are able to host this meeting over the next few days and that the men and women of Namara District were willing to host the meeting delegates.”
He pleaded with Mr Bainimarama to make the water issue in Namara a priority should he win the 2022 General Election.
In response, Infrastructure Minister Jone Usamate said there was a long-term plan to address the water issue in Namara after the completion of the Viria Water Project.
He said WAF were looking for a borehole in Tubalevu Village and if the water was clean it could be supplied to Namara District.
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