Push to build resilient municipalities

THE Fijian Government is making a concerted effort to ensure that urban knowledge and innovation are transformational enablers to sustainable development of our towns and cities.

These remarks were made by Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development Premila Kumar at the virtual Global Ministerial Conference themed “Knowledge and Innovation to transform the World’s Cities”.

“Through this Global Ministerial Conference, we have had the opportunity to extend that voice because we have seized our common experiences and common aspirations to drive urban knowledge and innovation to truly build resilient and sustainable economies,” Minister Kumar said.

“This report of the UN-Habitat, Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green and healthy future, is timely as it provides us key recommendations on forms and functions of cities, how to rebuild a ‘new normal’ urban economy and how urban legislations and governance arrangements will play a pivotal role moving forward.”

The Minister informed the conference that Fiji’s largest municipal council, the Suva City Council, held a stakeholder meeting in collaboration with UNESCAP to discuss the socio-economic response to COVID-19.

Minister Kumar said the council made an application under this pilot initiative – Urban Economic Recovery and Resilience Building in the time of COVID-19 and was chosen as one of the four cities in the Asia and Pacific region to pilot this initiative.

She explained that the advantage of this program ranges from “No Poverty to Good Health and Well-Being to Decent Work and Economic Growth”.

“In recognising the need to harness technology, Fiji through the Ministry of Local Government, is digitalising manual system to meet the demands and interests of various stakeholders.” Minister Kumar said the transformation will bring about reforms in the ICT structure at the Ministry and the 13 municipal councils.

This will also introduce the online submission/approval of Construction permits by the Councils – further promoting a green economy.