Fiji’s Councils Take Charge: A New Era for Drainage Management

Municipal councils in Fiji are now designated as the primary bodies responsible for repairing drainage networks within their jurisdictions. This important distinction was clarified by Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad during a recent address at the Nadi Business Forum.

Prof Prasad highlighted the previous ambiguities surrounding the responsibilities for maintaining the country’s drainage systems, stating, “We have managed to address this, by clearly demarcating the responsibility of maintaining drainage structure in the country.” Municipal councils will now oversee all drainage within town and city limits, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways will be responsible for drainage outside these municipalities.

He emphasized the Coalition Government’s commitment to revitalizing the country’s severely neglected infrastructure, which spans critical sectors including health, education, and transport. “We have now been in office for just two years. Rebuilding and upgrading infrastructure is a complex, long-term process that cannot be completed overnight,” Prof Prasad explained.

In light of this, the government is implementing strategic initiatives to prioritize infrastructure development, including increased funding for essential projects and ensuring alignment with the National Development Plan (NDP). The reestablishment of the Public Works Department (PWD) enhances the government’s capability to manage and maintain rural infrastructure effectively.

These steps align with ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure, as seen in the recent establishment of an emergency committee focusing on road and drainage improvements in the greater Nausori area and the allocation of funds to tackle road maintenance issues nationwide. Overall, these actions reflect a hopeful commitment from the government to enhance living conditions and promote economic stability by addressing long-standing infrastructural deficiencies.

This proactive approach is a promising sign for the future, as it emphasizes the importance of resilient infrastructure in supporting community development and local economies.