The Tailevu Provincial Council is encouraging local residents to maximize the use of their farms, lands, and fishing areas to create sustainable income for their families and the province. Chair Semi Matalau underscored that enhancing the financial stability of the province hinges on better management and utilization of its natural resources.
Matalau expressed the council’s commitment to working alongside the government to help resource owners unlock their potential. To build financial resilience, the council has proposed the reintroduction of Adi Tailevu Day. This event, to coincide with next year’s provincial council meeting, aims to unite the community in providing traditional contributions, known as soli, to bolster the council’s administrative funds.
He noted, “Currently, government grants are insufficient to meet the growing demands on the council. The workload is up here, but the government allocation is down here. We see the Adi Tailevu Day as a way for the people of Tailevu to assist the province directly, with all contributions benefiting only Tailevu.”
Matalau envisions a future where local villages and districts will oversee their economic growth through independent businesses, thereby reducing their dependency on soli contributions. This renewed emphasis on resource management and community engagement represents a hopeful shift towards greater economic self-sufficiency for Tailevu Province.
Additionally, recent discussions among local governance and community leaders have underscored the need for better management of local councils, highlighting ongoing efforts to uplift the financial conditions of indigenous communities. Government initiatives are focused on enhancing economic resilience, empowering local members, and promoting good governance, with various development strategies and a significant allocation of $3.2 million aimed at supporting rural and outer island advancements.
This proactive approach towards strengthening local governance and directly involving the community in financial initiatives is viewed as a promising pathway for creating impactful economic opportunities in Tailevu, ultimately leading to a more prosperous and cohesive community.