Ra Chamber of Commerce and Industry to spearhead $250,000 mortuary project near Rakiraki Hospital with broad community backing
The Ra Chamber of Commerce and Industry has unveiled plans for its second major project, an 18-chamber mortuary to be built near Rakiraki Hospital with a budget of about $250,000. Its first project was an infusion unit valued at over $2,000.
Chamber president Latchman Gounden said the initiative is designed to involve the entire community. “We’re getting the vanua involved, the Ra Provincial Council, all the churches, the business community, all the Ramayan Mandali, basically anybody and everybody who wants to participate,” he stated. He noted two main donors at this stage: GS Raj Group and Duadua Beach Resort, each contributing $25,000, with Smart Apparel also contributing.
Gounden explained that the chamber would import all the freezer units needed for the mortuary and emphasize that the project is a “people’s project.” Once completed, it would be handed over to the Government and become the property of Rakiraki Hospital. Currently, Rakiraki Hospital does not have a mortuary.
“The senior divisional medical officer told us at a recent seminar that there is no body storage facility at all,” Gounden added, and he called for more donors to support the project. A groundbreaking ceremony will be planned once the Health Ministry grants approval.
Context and broader picture
The plan by Ra follows a broader push across Fiji to upgrade end-of-life services. In recent months, the government announced a total investment of about $1.2 million for new mortuary units across the country, including Rakiraki and other locations. This national effort sits alongside local developments such as the opening of a new mortuary facility at the Raralevu cemetery in Nausori, funded through community contributions, and ongoing upgrades to the Raiwaqa crematorium. These efforts reflect a broader commitment to dignified funeral services and more resilient health infrastructure.
Summary
A community-driven project in Ra aims to provide a much-needed mortuary facility near Rakiraki Hospital, funded by local donors and supported by a wide network of community groups. The project awaits Health Ministry approval before construction can begin, and it forms part of Fiji’s wider strategy to expand and modernize mortuary capacity nationwide.
Fijian Summary
Subheading: iNaukacici ni Veimatanitu e na Vakaraitaki na Ra
Na Ra Chamber of Commerce and Industry e vakaraitaka vei keda na nona itavi me da kila e dua na mortuary ena 18 na ivakatagi e volai ki Rakiraki Hospital, kei na isau e about $250,000. Na nodra inaki na i tukutuku qo e tiko kina na veitaqomaki ni vanua, na vanua ni Ra Provincial Council, na lotu, na bisinisi kei na Ramayan Mandali. Sa tukuna talega ni sa tuvakadurutaki na donors me Baleta: GS Raj Group kei Duadua Beach Resort e ciqoma $25,000, kei na Smart Apparel talega me so na donu.
Na i yau ni veitaro e vakadinatina na chamber ni na vakatakarivi kece na ivakatawa me rau vakayacora na mortuary qo, ena vukea na hospital. E tukuna o Gounden ni na tatou/import na veivakaitikotiko ni freezer units me sa vakarautaki kina na nodra wiliwili. E tukuna talega ni na ituvaki ni koya ni na vakarautaki na project ke laurai na Health Ministry na ivakavuliciakaga. Dua na vakalouwataki e na caka ni vakararavi ni mortuary ena Rakiraki.
Na ivakaraitaki ni veiivakadinadina ena vuravura
Na itavi qo e sotavi vata kei na veiliutaki ni nodra vanua me ra vakatovolei na i karua na mortuary. Na imatai ni yabaki, sa vakaraitaki kina na mataveitobo ni nodra vakatulewa na kalawa ni vakaleqa mortuary ni matavuvale me baleta na noda vale, kei na so tale na vanua me vaka Rakiraki. E tu vei keda na RAWA me baleta na vuku ni vakamatatataki ni vei mate, na veivakurabuitaki ni noda ivakarau vei ira na matua kei na veitokoni ni so na vei-vanua.
Additional comments
– Na cakacaka qo e vakaraitaka na lesoni vinaka ni veiqaravi vakavanua me vukea na veika levu vei ira na tamata ena gauna ni mate, me na qai wawaqa na lewenivanua cake vei ira na tabacakacaka vakailavo.
– E dodonu me tukuna yaca vakamatavei ni donors, na kaukaua ni vanua ni vanua, kei na ivakarau ni veivakadonudonu me baleta na ivavakoso ni mortuary. Na Health Ministry me vakayacora na veivuke me rawa ni vakadeitaki na ivakarau ni cakacaka.
– Na kena ituvaki e vakaraitaka na ituvatuva ni vanua me vakavinakataki kina na eda na qai tuvanaka na noda ivakarau ni vuravura ni mate, ka rawa ni kilai kina na ivakarau ni veivakadonudonu kei na vakavinakataki ni noda ivakatawa me baleta na itukutuku kei na kuka.
Note: If you would like, I can add brief quotes from community leaders or donors, and provide a timeline once Health Ministry approval is secured.
Leave a comment