Japan Donates Six Boats to Government
The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development has received six boats with engines and spare parts from the Japanese government.
This is to boost the country’s disaster preparedness and response.
Ambassador of Japan to Fiji, Omura Masahiro, handed the boats to the Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu on Friday.
Mr Masahiro said the boats and equipment would support and help restore Fijian livelihoods affected by natural disasters.
“I am very pleased to say that together with the marine utilities being handed over today, other equipment, also handed over in July 2019, collectively have a total value of Three Hundred Million Japanese Yen or Five Point Eight million Fijian Dollars (FJ$5.8m),” Mr Masahiro said. “Based on Japan’s experience of natural disasters and lessons learnt, we are providing emergency relief as well as medium to long term assistance to Fiji, in order to build back better.
“On the whole, we are working closely with the Fijian Government to enhance the resilience of all Fijians against natural disasters.”
Mr Seruiratu while receiving the boats said the handover ceremony was a timely one, considering that Fiji was only two months from the next cyclone season. “The six boats and engines donated to the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management will enable us as first responders to attend to remote communities impacted by natural disasters in an efficient manner,” Mr Seruiratu said.
“Transportation is also one of the critical enablers for providing services. And that is why this is an exciting day for us all because the provision of these new boats will not only be useful during disaster operations in the divisions, most importantly, these boats will also assist our officers to continue to maintain ‘connectivity’ and deliver.”