Some parts of the $1.5 million Ratu Sukuna Park upgrade project are on schedule to be completed by October this year, says Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa.

This newspaper asked him about the cordoned-off park in the heart of Suva City because three years after its launch in 2020 by former Local Government Minister Premila Kumar, it remains closed to the public.

Mr Nalumisa said construction work had progressed.

“As we speak, the podium is under construction and we are targeting to complete it by October this year,” he said.

“So I want to assure the residents of Suva and the users of Suva City that construction for Ratu Sukuna Park has already started.

“We will also look at other specifications of the project.”

This newspaper also asked Mr Nalumisa about the cordoned-off section of Shirley Park, Lautoka, which has not seen any development in the past eight years despite a promise by local firm P Meghji in 2015 to construct a 144-room hotel and 500 capacity conference centre to the tune of $23 million.

Mr Nalumisa said development of the park was “still in the process”.

“There were a few other projects and concept plans that were brought forward but we are still reviewing that.

“We will most probably sit down again with the Lautoka City Council as well as the chairman and special administrators to discuss the best way of developing Shirley Park.”

In September 2021, The Fiji Times reported that $560,000 had been provided for the development of the proposed Shirley Park podium and associated facilities.

Lautoka City Council CEO Mohammed Anees Khan said the project would provide a venue for organised public events.

P Meghji Group of Companies executive director Romit Meghji said the hotel would help accommodate visitors in the Sugar city as there was always shortage of rooms.

“When complete the hotel will have 144 rooms and a conference centre of international design capable of easily accommodating 500 participants at any one time,” Mr Meghji said.