More than 200 individuals and community groups across Vanua Levu have received grants from the Ministry of Multi‑Ethnic Affairs in what Minister Charan Jeath Singh described as the largest distribution the Northern Division has seen from the ministry to date. A total of 203 recipients from towns and settlements including Seaqaqa, Dreketi in Bua, Savusavu, Labasa and Nadogo collected the funding, which supports multi‑ethnic and faith‑based community initiatives.
The grants form part of the ministry’s $2 million budget for the current financial year. Singh said the Northern Division’s share represents 40 percent of the national allocation — the equivalent of roughly $800,000 — underscoring the government’s focus on strengthening community development in Vanua Levu. Recipients travelled considerable distances to receive their assistance, highlighting demand across the division for targeted support to local projects and organisations.
Singh framed the rollout as a practical expression of the government’s broader commitment to inclusive development, saying the funds are intended to promote cohesion and uplift local initiatives led by diverse faith and community groups. He urged beneficiaries to use the grants responsibly and to return receipts and documentation within the stipulated timeframes so the ministry can account for expenditure and monitor outcomes.
Ministry officials said this tranche included both individual grants and support for community groups undertaking small infrastructure, outreach or programmatic activities designed to benefit multi‑ethnic and faith communities. While the ministry did not publish a breakdown of grant sizes or the number of organisations versus individuals funded, the emphasis was on getting assistance quickly to grassroots actors across the Northern Division.
The Northern roll‑out comes amid broader government efforts to mobilise communities, faith groups and traditional leaders on social priorities — a strategy recent ministers have reiterated in discussions on public health and social challenges. For the ministry, directing a sizable portion of its annual budget to Vanua Levu reflects both identified need and political attention to ensuring outer‑island regions receive visible support.
Officials indicated monitoring and follow‑up will form part of the distribution process, with beneficiaries required to submit receipts and reports. Singh said the ministry will continue assessing needs across the country over the remainder of the financial year to determine further allocations that support unity and local development.
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