Residents of Dreketi expressed significant concerns regarding infrastructure and essential services during the recent 2025–2026 National Budget Consultation. Held this week, the forum highlighted the community’s pressing needs, which included calls for urgent upgrades to roads, enhanced electricity and water access for remote communities, improvements to drainage systems, and the construction of new bridges.
Participants emphasized the necessity for better access to schools, the installation of bus shelters, and solar lighting projects, as well as support for agricultural processing facilities aimed at boosting local economies. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, recognized the thoughtful proposals put forth and underscored the government’s commitment to practical implementation of these needs moving forward.
Prasad remarked, “We don’t want to put things in the budget and not get them done. We will carefully assess all proposed projects to ensure proper planning and execution.” This statement echoes the sentiments shared in similar consultations previously, where citizens voiced comparable concerns regarding deteriorating rural infrastructure, lack of stable electricity supply, and the demand for long-term solutions to support land tenure and agricultural development.
The Dreketi consultation is part of a broader initiative by the government to involve public opinion across the nation ahead of the forthcoming national budget announcement. Such public engagement promotes a hopeful perspective of communal involvement in governance, suggesting that the active voices of citizens could lead to substantial improvements in their living conditions and community infrastructure.
Overall, the consultations reflect a growing relationship between the government and its citizens, with optimism that their contributions will significantly shape forthcoming policies and budgetary allocations, ultimately leading towards a more equitable framework for development in Fiji.
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