Labasa residents brought pressing infrastructure concerns to the forefront during the 2025–2026 National Budget Consultation held at the Labasa Chamber of Commerce this week.

Key issues raised included deteriorating rural roads, with community members reporting that some areas had been left unattended for over a decade. Access to electricity also remained a major concern, with residents in villages near existing power lines still living without reliable power.

Land tenure challenges were another major topic, as tenants called for greater government support to secure long-term leases and strengthen rural development efforts.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, who led the consultation, assured participants that their concerns would be taken into serious consideration during the budget planning process.

He emphasised the government’s commitment to equitable development, stating that infrastructure needs across all communities would be prioritised fairly in the upcoming national budget.

The Labasa consultation forms part of a series of nationwide meetings designed to gather public feedback ahead of the national budget presentation in Parliament later this year.