The government has been called upon to support Fijians residing in the most isolated islands. Semi Koroilavesau, an Opposition Member of Parliament and former Minister for Fisheries, highlighted that communities on these remote islands rely heavily on resources generated by the government.
Koroilavesau pointed out specific islands such as Yanuca, Ono-i-Lau, and Vatoa, noting that these areas lack significant resources. “If you look at agriculture, they do not even have land to cultivate. In terms of forestry, there is little that grows on rocks, mainly just bushes,” he stated. He emphasized that the only potential for cultivation lies in sandalwood, which could grow if birds were to drop seeds in the rocky terrain.
The former minister urged the government to allocate resources and assistance to the Minister for Fisheries to aid these isolated communities. He emphasized that the islanders have minimal resources, relying primarily on the sea for their livelihood.