Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru is advocating for the transfer of all municipal sports facilities to the Fiji Sports Council (FSC), aiming to enhance their maintenance and upgrade standards. Saukuru has prepared a draft proposal suggesting that this move would allow the government to provide consolidated support for restoring various sports venues across the country, including notable grounds like Labasa’s Subrail Park and Savusavu’s Ganilau Park.
In response to questions about the government’s lack of assistance in improving these facilities, Saukuru stated, “Instead of helping individual municipalities, it’s more effective to have the FSC manage all the grounds to meet international standards, as their primary focus is on sports.”
He pointed out that municipal councils typically operate on funds from ratepayers, which does not prioritize sports facility enhancements. Some town councils are open to discussing the transition to FSC management, while others express reluctance due to previous investments in these venues. For instance, Labasa Town Council special administrator Samuela Ligairi mentioned that they had recently invested $250,000 in Subrail Park for the Fiji FACT tournament, asserting that it is a matter of community pride.
Ligairi highlighted the importance of receiving government support through annual funding to maintain the facilities, suggesting that discussions on collaboratively improving Subrail Park should continue, especially with the upcoming Battle of Giants tournament set to occur there this year.
This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts within the Ministry of Youth and Sports to enhance sports infrastructures across Fiji, as seen in recent requests for quotations from contractors for improvements at multiple sports grounds, reinforcing the government’s commitment to elevating sports culture in the country.
Hope for a brighter future of sporting facilities in Fiji is evident, as these discussions reflect a proactive approach towards investing in sports infrastructure, ultimately aiming to promote athletics and community engagement nationwide.
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