The government is being called upon to provide support for Fijians living in the most remote islands. Semi Koroilavesau, a Member of Parliament in the opposition and former Minister for Fisheries, highlighted that these isolated island communities largely rely on resources generated by the government.
He pointed out areas such as Yanuca, which lies between Rabi and Taveuni, as well as Ono-i-Lau and the southeastern island of Vatoa, noting the lack of resources available there. “In terms of agriculture, they have little land for cultivation. When it comes to forestry, growth is limited to rocky areas where there’s little more than bushes. The only potential for cultivation lies with sandalwood, which could occur if birds were to drop seeds in suitable locations,” Koroilavesau explained.
He urged the government to allocate resources and offer assistance to the Minister for Fisheries to aid these isolated communities. According to him, the islanders have limited options and rely heavily on marine resources, which serve as their primary source of income.