THE Kadavu Development Plan 2025–2035 is aimed at empowering the people of the province, says provincial council chairman Isikeli Vuniwaqa.
With various challenges faced by the people of Kadavu over many years, Mr Vuniwaqa said, the plan has paved a clearer pathway that will guide the chiefs and people of the island to achieving their goals contained in the document.
“Kadavu has been always in isolation for many decades, simply because of its geographical structure,” he said.
“It’s hilly, it’s mainly accessible by water. Now that the whole infrastructure is improving, that has helped a little bit but the main problems at this point is transportation from Kadavu to Suva and vice versa and communication.
“The network of communication on the island is poor compared to what other provinces have, we suffer very bad links and that’s one downside of our development.”
He said the launch of the plan at the Great Council of Chief’s complex in Suva last week involved a lot of commitment and contribution over the past two years.
“It has taken two years for us to develop our strategic development plan and has been a painstaking exercise simply because we have to do a wide consultation.
“We wanted to make it a very inclusive plan, including consulting the people of Kadavu on the various levels, the provincial council members, the various government departments, the national planning office, the iTaukei Affairs Board, Multi-Ethnic and the Rural Development.”
Development committee chairman Akuila Masi said the plan is divided into five key priority areas.
“These are the key priority areas that respond to some of the development challenges we have.
“First and foremost, the geographical isolation of the island is one of the contributing factors on why development in Kadavu has been a struggle in the past years.
“We want to revive SMEs. We also need to open up market access for people that are doing business. In Kadavu, sometimes we do business, it’s only for subsistence, it’s within our community.”
Mr Masi said this plan will boost opportunities for the people of the island.
Outgoing Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management Sakiasi Ditoka, fourth from left, cuts the cake with the chiefs of Kadavu and development partners during the Kadavu Development Plan launch in Suva last week. Picture: KATA KOLI
