The forum was a daylong event held in Sigatoka on Thursday 15th August, 2019 with sessions led by Dialogue Fiji staff, Ministry of Rural Development Staff and facilitated concern collecting sessions, where citizens were provided an opportunity to articulate issues they faced and engage in dialogue with state representatives on those issues.
The Ministry of Rural Development officials who were the Provincial Administrators for the Sigatoka area informed the participants of their citizenry rights and plans for development. There were many issues that were brought up including neighborhood safety. The related issues were speeding zones, violence against children in the community, and stray dogs in the area that were dangerous and an ongoing problem. Poor drainage in the Sigatoka area was singled out as an ongoing issue in the area. The drainage affected school children’s access to school after heavy rains and an added important concern for I’Taukei landowners in the area. For most of the participants, it was the first time they learnt that the Provincial Administrator takes their concerns to the meetings of the Ministry of Rural Development and reported that the ‘Local Meeting’ was much appreciated.
The residents were able to learn of the concerns of others living in the area. Some reported that the information of citizens rights under the new constitution was a new concept especially that ideas such as that it was the obligation of the current government to provide education for free as the right to education is listed under the constitution.
Others found it useful to learn that issues they faced could be either told to the District Advisory Councillors or the Turaga ni Koro’s of their respective areas or villages, and these concerns would be raised in the Provincial Council Meetings. On the day of the ‘meeting’ some of the participants directly reported matters of on-going concern to the Provincial Administrator who was a presenter on the day. A few participants stated that it was important to keep discussing ongoing issues they were facing, as well as knowing the correct communication channel to follow to allow their reported concerns affect policy and bring about some change to their daily realities. A youth participant stated that it was his deep concern that the Ministry of Youth would be removing the representatives of the rural youth, yet would be retaining the urban representative, He stated that it was important that the rural youth had a spokesperson in provincial decision-making platforms, as those in the rural areas were geographically disadvantaged.
A Citizens Concerns Committee was formed on the day with the elected chairperson being Ms Sashi Prabha and Deputy Chair being Mr Esala Delana. The committee is planning to meet regularly to discuss issues they are facing and to follow through the channel of communication to the proper authorities, as well as keep Dialogue Fiji informed of the outcomes of their meetings.The Dialogue Fiji Team noted that for all the participants, it was the first time they had come face to face with a Provincial Administrator and the interaction on the day with an ‘authority’ on rural development was fully utilized and appreciated by the participants.
The Ministry of Rural Development officials who were the Provincial Administrators for the Sigatoka area informed the participants of their citizenry rights and plans for development. There were many issues that were brought up including neighborhood safety. The related issues were speeding zones, violence against children in the community, and stray dogs in the area that were dangerous and an ongoing problem. Poor drainage in the Sigatoka area was singled out as an ongoing issue in the area. The drainage affected school children’s access to school after heavy rains and an added important concern for I’Taukei landowners in the area. For most of the participants, it was the first time they learnt that the Provincial Administrator takes their concerns to the meetings of the Ministry of Rural Development and reported that the ‘Local Meeting’ was much appreciated.
The residents were able to learn of the concerns of others living in the area. Some reported that the information of citizens rights under the new constitution was a new concept especially that ideas such as that it was the obligation of the current government to provide education for free as the right to education is listed under the constitution.
Others found it useful to learn that issues they faced could be either told to the District Advisory Councillors or the Turaga ni Koro’s of their respective areas or villages, and these concerns would be raised in the Provincial Council Meetings. On the day of the ‘meeting’ some of the participants directly reported matters of on-going concern to the Provincial Administrator who was a presenter on the day. A few participants stated that it was important to keep discussing ongoing issues they were facing, as well as knowing the correct communication channel to follow to allow their reported concerns affect policy and bring about some change to their daily realities. A youth participant stated that it was his deep concern that the Ministry of Youth would be removing the representatives of the rural youth, yet would be retaining the urban representative, He stated that it was important that the rural youth had a spokesperson in provincial decision-making platforms, as those in the rural areas were geographically disadvantaged.
A Citizens Concerns Committee was formed on the day with the elected chairperson being Ms Sashi Prabha and Deputy Chair being Mr Esala Delana. The committee is planning to meet regularly to discuss issues they are facing and to follow through the channel of communication to the proper authorities, as well as keep Dialogue Fiji informed of the outcomes of their meetings.The Dialogue Fiji Team noted that for all the participants, it was the first time they had come face to face with a Provincial Administrator and the interaction on the day with an ‘authority’ on rural development was fully utilized and appreciated by the participants.
