Eleven community-based organisations in Tavua have been awarded a combined $74,582.16 in Multi-Ethnic grants to fund grassroots infrastructure and safety projects, Minister for Public Enterprises, Multi‑Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts Charan Jeath Singh announced at a handover ceremony in Tavua.
Mr Singh said the grants are intended to empower community groups to strengthen their operations and deliver services that benefit the wider public, while also promoting social cohesion. “I trust that you will utilise these grants well, and I am hopeful that they will contribute meaningfully towards promoting social cohesion within your communities,” he told recipients. He added that the projects approved—ranging from borehole construction to cemetery renovations and temple works—address essential needs that may previously have been overlooked.
Among the funded initiatives is a solar lighting project for the Nasivi community. Anasa Harold, president of the GP Boys Club and speaking on behalf of Nasivi, described limited public lighting as a daily safety and mobility challenge for residents. “It has been very difficult to move around after dark. There have been incidents where people were robbed while returning home from work or going to nearby shops,” Mr Harold said, welcoming the government support and saying the solar lighting will allow people to move around at night “without fear.”
Other projects approved under the Tavua grants include borehole construction—aimed at improving access to clean water—cemetery renovations and temple projects, reflecting a mix of essential services and cultural infrastructure. Mr Singh highlighted that such investments are “critical projects that directly improve the quality of life for our people and ensure that no community is left behind.”
The Multi‑Ethnic grants programme, administered through the Ministry of Multi‑Ethnic Affairs, is designed to channel modest sums to locally led organisations so they can undertake targeted, practical work on community priorities. In Tavua, the latest tranche focuses on visible, short‑term infrastructure improvements that officials say can have an immediate impact on daily living, safety and social cohesion.
Recipients were urged to ensure transparent and effective use of funds so the projects deliver measurable benefits. The minister’s office said the grants are part of broader efforts to support grassroots development across Fiji by strengthening community capacity and addressing basic service gaps. For Nasivi residents, the solar lighting installation is expected to be among the first visible outcomes from the Tavua round, with other projects due to proceed once recipients finalise local implementation plans.
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