Press Releases

» Japan Provides Grant Assistance to the Sigatoka Town Council

Embargo: Thursday, 6th November 2008, 11.00 a.m.

The Government of Japan has provided a new Backhoe loader, worth US$85,082 (approx. F$128,900.00) under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme, to the Sigatoka Town Council.

The Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr Yutaka Yoshizawa officially handed over the Backhoe Loader to the Mayor of Sigatoka Town, His Worship, Ratu Isikeli Tasere, at 11.00 am on Thursday, 6th November, 2008 at VIP Lounge of Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka Town.

The main objective of this funding is to assist the Sigatoka Town Council to better manage the environment of Sigatoka Town, which serves as an administrative and commercial centre for approximately 65,000 people of the Nadroga/Navosa Province. The town also serves as a transit point for travellers to and from the Western and Central divisions. The Backhoe Loader will be utilised for cleaning and upgrading the drainage system, roads and the waste disposal site of the Sigatoka Town. It is envisaged that this project will assist the Sigatoka Town to keep efficiency in the sanitation and safety of its environment, and would also ease the financial constraints faced by the Town Council in hiring the required services for its population.

Japan’s assistance to this project indicates its commitment to contribute to the improvement of the living standards and welfare of the people of Fiji Islands and is in line with its Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy of promoting development at the grassroots level. The GGP programme is specifically designed to address basic human needs, which include sanitary environment, water supply, health, basic education, vocational training, and rural infrastructure. It is hoped that this assistance will help further strengthen the friendly ties between the governments and the peoples of Japan and Fiji Islands