To the:
Vanua of Serua,
Mataqali LUTUYA,
Yavusa KOROLEVU,
Navutulevu Development Enterprise members,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Cola! and Yadra Vinaka to you all.
I’m very excited to be here today and to receive such a warm welcome.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This morning, I’m not here just to do a handover, but to celebrate your achievements, as a community. And as a representative of your Government, I want to say we are glad to be able to contribute to your community.
We will continue to support and empower Fijians to earn a sustainable living. This is critical to the recovery of the economy and exactly what Fiji needs right now.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Integrated Human Resources Development Programme or IHRDP, has worked with Navutulevu Development Enterprise, so communities can pool resources and work together on projects that generate income and create decent work.
Through this very programme, we have supported 26 communities over the last 5 years. If we were to put a monetary value — we are looking at $1.3 million. But apart from finance, we take pride knowing the livelihoods impacted — which is often beyond measure.
The project cost of the portable sawmill, carpentry tools and small machines that we’re handing over today is valued at $73,675. The Navutulevu Development Enterprise contributed more than $18,000, whilst the Fijian Government supported the balance of approximately $55,000 through grant funding.
When the community contributes towards a project, there is ownership and increased responsibility to achieve the desired results — to have the project work.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The handover of equipment and resources today is a hallmark of the many good things to come. These assets have to be used in the right way and looked after well – for you to realise our investments.
I want to reiterate that this is your project, and you need to take full ownership of the business to ensure that the business continues to flourish and grow for you, your families and the community. This can only be achieved if you run the enterprise with good business principles and integrity.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
If you do this business, well, you will be able to create better lives for you and your family – you will be able to send your kids to school, put food on the table and meet other financial commitments you may have. Most importantly it will strengthen the community. The community will work together as a united group to contribute to the growth of the country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is encouraging to see youth involvement in the Navutulevu Development Enterprise. At least 50 youth in the area are trained and certified by the Ministry of Forestry. They have a Chainsaw Operator license and Portable Sawmill Operator license.
These youths have identified a viable career in the forestry sector. They are our future and our agents for change.
This business will allow you — the youth, you — the resource owners, to utilise your resources — your forests. I urge the community to think big and for the future to convert the resources into income. It is equally important to adopt sustainable practices to ensure the trees you benefit from today are there tomorrow for your children and grandchildren.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
You have been hearing that we need to change the way business is done. All business practices need to follow COVID safe practices. This simply means that you continue to wear masks, maintain a distance of 2 metres, practice sanitisation and always wash your hands. Through your help, we will be able to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus and open our tourism industry so more Fijians can go back to work.
All Fijians working together is the only driving force that will help overcome the impacts of COVID-19 and take Fiji and our economy forward.
This also means that this will open opportunities to you to allow you to secure international markets more freely, it will also allow you to better secure customers.
I also urge Navutulevu Development Enterprises to take advantage of our “Fijian Made-Buy Fijian” campaign. Our Fijian brand is well recognised internationally. So what you make locally, can someday reach our overseas markets and the Ministry will help facilitate this.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Like any other business, you will surely face challenges along the way. But we will continue to support you in whichever way we can.
I would like to acknowledge other Government Ministries and private sector partners who have worked with IHRDP to make this happen today.
Before I conclude – I would also like to remind you all, such opportunities were not given to those that were before you. Now you are in a position to create opportunities for those that come after you. So please use it well.
With these few words, it gives me great pleasure to officially hand over the portable sawmill, carpentry tools and machines to the Chairperson of Navutulevu Development Enterprise.
Vinaka vakalevu and moce mua vasewa.