Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Cyclone Recovery Program will be carried out by Fijian contractors only.
Australia’s Chargé d’Affaires to Fiji, Stuart Watts, made this commitment while pledging an additional funding of $9 million to the program on Tuesday.
He said the aim of the program was to support local Fijians, and the Fijian economy.
“The program just had a value of $44m and today I’m pleased to announce that Australia is providing close to $9 million of additional funding,” Mr Watts said on Tuesday.
“Today’s event is to make further support from Australia but this time for the Cyclone Recovery Program.
“As has been discussed during events in this media room previously, the Cyclone Recovery Program is making a real difference to the lives of Fijians living in Vanua Levu.”
Mr Watts said the additional funding was aimed at furnishing new classroom buildings and offices, and to reconstruct the Vunisea Hospital on Kadavu and Waiyevo Hospital on Taveuni.
The total value of the Cyclone Recovery Program now stands at almost $52 million.
- The Fiji Times had published an article yesterday on the agreement signing and had wrongly identified Mr Watts as John Williams. He was also wrongly identified in the caption of a picture accompanying a separate story as Pat Conroy, the Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific. We apologise for any inconvenience caused — Editor.
