Minister for Foreign Affairs Sakiasi Ditoka has defended the Coalition Government over the unfinished Lautoka swimming pool, saying the project is one of several incomplete developments inherited from the previous administration and that Government has been forced to prioritise more urgent needs.
Responding to criticism on social media, Ditoka acknowledged the frustration over the delayed project but said completing the pool had to compete with pressing demands for housing, infrastructure and social services.
“This swimming pool was one of a number of half-finished problems we inherited.”
Ditoka said the Government had already completed several inherited projects, including Ratu Sukuna Park, Govind Park in Ba and Queen Elizabeth Drive from Nasese to the National Stadium.
“We inherited them and got on with completing them.”
He said the Ministry of Housing and Local Government had inherited numerous unfinished developments while also dealing with serious social issues.
“The Ministry of Housing and Local Government… has had quite a collection of inherited problems to sort out.”
Ditoka pointed to the completion of the Lagilagi Housing project, challenges at the Housing Authority high-rise flats in Nabua, including drug-related issues, and the need to improve living conditions in informal settlements as competing priorities.
He said Government had to make difficult decisions on where limited public funds should be directed.
“The Lautoka swimming pool is important and, yes, it should be completed. But when you are weighing that against housing, basic infrastructure and improving the living conditions of some of our most vulnerable people, some things simply have to take priority over others.”
Ditoka said it was easier to criticise from outside Government than to manage competing demands on public finances.
“Those of us actually dealing with the inheritance have to make choices about where limited public money goes first. We won’t always please everyone, but that is the reality of governing.”
Despite the delays, Ditoka insisted the Lautoka swimming pool had not been abandoned.
“We completed Ratu Sukuna Park. We completed Govind Park. We completed Queen Elizabeth Drive. We haven’t forgotten Lautoka’s swimming pool either. We will get there.”
