Fiji Snippets: Vulagi, SODELPA delegates Complain, Nadi a City, Squatters, Suva Master Plan, Flash New Market at Laqere

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FBC Poll on Vulagi. "Do you aree with SODELPA that non-iTaukei Fijian citizens are vulagi (visitors)?"Yes 56.2%  No 43.8%.  

But,. Given that an iTaukei man married to a local woman who'd lived in her village for 20 years, is also considered vulangi, the question might better be reworded to "are equal citizens"— which is the real issue anyway. Unless the distinction is made, perhaps as a second question,  we cannot really understand what the poll and Ratu Naiqamu's original statement really mean  -- ACW



SODELPA delegates effectively told to "shut up"
Holding three  positions in SODELPA is an internal matter and has nothing to do with the public, says Adi Litia Qionibaravi, who holds the positions of Vice President, General Secretary and Treasurer. Some SODELPA members who attended the party’s General Assembly in Yaroi, Savusavu last week also said they were told by the new President Ro Filipe Tuisawau that there should be no more questions on this and he will resolve it..

The party members also said that they are concerned only three questions were allowed on other matters during the meeting. They say that this was disappointing because they paid a lot of money to go to Vanua Levu for the meeting and then were allowed so few questions. http://fijivillage.com/news/Holding-3-positions-in-SODELPA-is-an-internal-matter--has-nothing-to-do-with-the-public---Qionibaravi-9s52rk/
 

PM on squatters 
People who are living in squatter settlements who have 99-year leases given by the Government will now be able to step into the financial sector. With land as collateral they can access loans from mainstream banks. Full story

Nadi from small town to city
 It doesn't seem that long ago when Martin Bakker and I, were standing in a cane field south of Nadi, defining urban boundaries for the 1976 census, 

 Now, Nadi is soon to be declared Fiji's third city. Local Government Premila Kumar said the declaration has been overdue for the past two years and the official formalities will be done in October as the infrastructure around the extension of the town boundaries have been met. She added that the Local Government Ministry was also looking at improving the infrastructure at Nabouwalu and Seaqaqa and will declare the two areas as town in the near future.--  Nacanieli Tuilevuka. Fiji Live.

A Master Plan for Suva Singapore is working closely with Government on a master plan for Greater Suva. Read more.  

400 vendors to benefit from Laqere Market

About 400 market vendors of Nasinu will benefit from the new Laqere Market which is expected to open by October.
Minister of Local Government Premila Kumar said work on the new facility is nearing completion.
"92 percent works have been completed. At the moment the contractors are working on completing the car park and some other sections of the facility. The new market should be fully operational by October," she said.
"We will give space to all roadside sellers and the new market will increase economic activity in Nasinu and give the vendors a clean, spacious and convenient area to operate from."
"Apart from the 400 stalls for vendors, there will be 9 small kiosks and a fish market in the facility. The market will also have provisions for disabled persons."
She added that the $7 million investment by Government included the purchasing of land, construction of the modern facilities and a spacious car park and the project should boost economic growth and the growth of the agricultural sector. -- Nacanieli Tuilevuka, Fiji Live