The government has been urged to provide support for Fijians living on the most remote islands. Opposition MP and former Fisheries Minister Semi Koroilavesau highlighted that many isolated island communities rely heavily on the resources generated by the government.
He pointed out areas such as Yanuca, situated between Rabi and Taveuni, and Ono-i-Lau, located in the southeastern region that includes Vatoa, which lack essential resources. “In terms of agriculture, they don’t even have sufficient land to cultivate. Regarding forestry, nothing flourishes on rocky terrain. There are mostly bushes, and perhaps birds might occasionally drop sandalwood seeds among the rocks, allowing for minimal cultivation,” Mr. Koroilavesau explained.
He appealed to the government to allocate resources and support to the Minister for Fisheries in order to assist these isolated communities. Mr. Koroilavesau emphasized that the island residents possess limited means, relying mainly on marine resources as their primary source of revenue.