The Member of Parliament (MP) for Fataleka Constituency and Minister of Finance, Honourable Rexon Ramofafia, handed over livelihood projects worth $3.2 million aimed at improving livelihoods and community development in his constituency on Saturday 14 February.
The project materials and equipment were funded through the Fataleka Constituency Development Funds (CDF) budget for 2025.
Project materials and equipment were delivered under four main categories in compliance with the CDF Act 2023.
These include Productive and Resource Sector, Essential Services, Cross-Sectoral, and Social & Cultural.
The assistance was part of the ongoing efforts and commitment by the Fataleka constituency office, under the leadership of Hon. Ramofafia towards improving rural livelihoods and aligning it with the constituency’s development plan.
Project goods and supplies include hardware materials, water tanks, chainsaws, solar deep freezers, boats & engines, fibreglass paddle canoes, agricultural tools & materials, and solar & lighting systems.
These materials and equipment are intended to support the construction of dwelling houses and church infrastructure, fishery, agriculture, forestry, and water & sanitation development in the constituency.
Honourable Ramofafia expressed satisfaction in delivering these projects, emphasizing that this is just the beginning of many more assistance and initiatives in the future.
He further stressed that the importance of these projects is primarily to improve people’s livelihoods and safeguard long-term improvement of the standard of living and development in the constituency.
The delayed project delivery was related to the late disbursement of CDF funds by the government last year.
However, despite these challenges, the constituency office remained committed and ensured all necessary processes and procedures were followed to deliver service to the communities of Fataleka.
“We are changing lives and livelihoods,” Minister Ramofafia said at the handover ceremony, emphasizing the constituency’s office’s steadfast commitment under his leadership to continue supporting and delivering government-supported initiatives to improve social and economic livelihoods in the constituency.
He also took the opportunity to outline the constituency’s targets and priorities going forward, in preparation for the country’s 50th anniversary, which include: improving living standards, health, education, road infrastructure, fishery, and agriculture.
“By 2028, we aim to complete more than 500 houses for each family under our housing program. Health, education, and road infrastructure must also improve, along with our people’s living standards.
“These are our targets as we prepare for our country’s 50th anniversary in 2028. We can achieve these targets together once we unite and work together,” he said.
Hon. Minister Ramofafia also emphasized that while support for housing and infrastructure continues, the constituency office is gradually shifting focus towards investing in productive sectors like agriculture, fishery, and forestry, in line with government policy and priorities.
He appealed to resource owners and the good people of Fataleka to work together with the constituency office for the development of Fataleka.
“The responsibility lies with all of us to work together and support development in our constituency for the benefit of our children,” Hon. Ramofafia told his constituents
He urged his people to utilize the farming tools and equipment provided to earn their living rather than living them lying idle in their homes.
He also highlighted challenges faced by the constituency office over the years, which he said will not deter his commitment and courage to lead the constituency toward an improved standard of living.
Hon. Ramofafia called on recipients to take good care of the assistance they receive through these projects for their benefit.
He also expressed profound gratitude to chiefs, community leaders, church leaders, and all the people of Fataleka for their continued support and prayers for the constituency office under his leadership over the past years, as well as for making the handover program a success.
Speaking on behalf of the government, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, John Misite’e, congratulated the people of Fataleka, especially the recipients of the projects.
“This project delivery is a testament and demonstration of the government’s commitment through MRD to support and improve rural livelihoods, even in a small way.
“This support under the CDF program is aimed at improving the livelihoods of our people in our most remote rural communities.
“Despite limited resources and finances, the government will continue to support constituency offices to facilitate progress all be it in a small but meaningful ways in and/or for our rural areas and people. The government, through the CDF program will ensure that people in our most remote communities will experience and see the government’s support through it,” PS Misite’e underscored.
He also thanked the constituency office, under the leadership of Hon. Ramofafia, for their relentless efforts and collaboration with the ministry to facilitate and deliver these projects.
“The delivery fulfills the government’s commitment to improve rural livelihoods in our communities,” he said.
“This program helps us understand how communities work and how we should work together to support development in our communities,” he added.
PS Misite’e encouraged every community to work together for better development in Fataleka constituency.
Other priority areas the constituency has supported over the past years include road development, education, specifically in terms of tuition fees for students, housing projects, church infrastructure and fisheries.
Hundreds of people from both the West and East Fataleka attended the ceremony, which was held at Subobono village, Ata’a.
The handover program ends with feasting and entertainment.
– MRD
