Suva, February 03 – The Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Hon. Iliesa Delana has urged the elders of Namosi to constantly engage in dialogue with youths and learn of their development needs and trends in order for them to progress.

Hon. Delana was at Naqarawai village on Tuesday to open the Naqarawai district meeting and visited youths of Wainimakutu, and Saliadrau villages.

“There is a need to empower youths so they can air their grievances, needs, visions and plans at the village, district and provincial levels,” Delana told the meeting delegates.

“The ministry has discovered during its rural visits that youths are often supressed at these meetings and their plans and needs are not often heard and addressed,” said the Assistant Minister.

“Elders and the vanua have to realise that in order to secure a better future for our youths, we need to actively involve them in fruitful dialogue at every level of the community engagement,” said Hon. Delana.

Hon. Delana reiterated to the delegates of Naqarawai district that “Government is committed to youth development and his visit is testament to that commitment.”

“The Minister for Youth and Sports and myself have travelled extensively throughout Fiji to ensure that services provided by Government are introduced and extended to youths living in rural and remote areas,” said Hon. Delana.

“This is to ensure that they equally enjoy the benefits of services provided by Government,” added the Minister.

Roko Tui Namosi Mr Waisake Tuisese said; “We are glad for the timely message from Hon. Assistant Minister and look forward to a revived and rejuvenated youth network in Namosi in the near future.”

“Namosi has lots of potential for future development,” said Mr Tuisese. “The onus is on the elders to partner with Government and empower the young people of Namosi to ensure they realise the rich resources at their disposal and fully utilise them to their own benefits.”

Hon. Iliesa Delana will end his visit in Namosi on Thursday.