The Minister for Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa, says more public consultations will be held in the near future on the proposed at Coronation Park in Lautoka.
He attended the public consultation in Lautoka yesterday afternoon, where he reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and community engagement in all Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
He said public consultations are a critical component of PPPs, particularly for million-dollar developments that have wide social, economic, and environmental impacts.
“Public consultations ensure transparency in decision-making, reduce suspicions of corruption or favoritism, and hold both public and private partners accountable to taxpayers,” Mr Nalumisa said.
He added that these forums allow local residents, businesses, community organizations, and environmental advocates to share their views and contribute to refining project plans, ensuring that major developments are financially viable, socially responsible, and environmentally sound.
The Minister reiterated that he has been continuously reminding municipal councils about the importance of holding public consultations before moving ahead with large-scale projects.
About 100 ratepayers attended two separate consultation sessions yesterday.
