Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has called for a major shift in Fiji’s national development, urging government agencies to coordinate efforts to help ageing urban dwellers return to their ancestral village homes.
Speaking at the official opening of the new District Office in Nadarivatu on Thursday, Mr Rabuka emphasised the need to redirect infrastructure and resources toward rural and maritime areas to ensure their long-term sustainability.
To turn this vision into reality, Mr Rabuka revealed he has directed Cabinet members to formalise a dedicated resettlement program.
The initiative specifically targets individuals who originally migrated to urban centres for education and employment but now wish to return to their home provinces as they grow older.
Mr Rabuka stressed that the strategy required a highly coordinated approach. He urged all government ministries, provincial offices, and agencies to work hand-in-hand to facilitate this migration back to rural roots.
He said the concept arose from community discussions regarding informal housing.
“No, it was brought up on the irregular settlements in Nanuku in Vatuwaqa and one of the ladies there asked to be resettled back to her village in Koro, Lomaiviti,” Mr Rabuka said.
“I said that’s a very good example. We can take it up as an example of those that need, want to go back after work, after looking after children’s education in the urban areas, they should be helped, assisted by the provincial councils, by the vanua and the Ministry of Ethical Affairs.
“So it’s a very good initiative and I know that Santabu has been carrying on this, resettling some of their people from urban centres back to the villages, and it’s going well.”
