First of its kind - a park for seniors in Suva

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Suva and Suva City Council have embarked on developing a park for senior citizens at the Thurston Gardens in Suva.

At the official groundbreaking ceremony held today at the Thurston Gardens, the Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Jiko Luveni said the park being first of its kind in the Pacific was part of the Government’s determination to provide for the care and welfare of senior citizens in Fiji.

“The construction of this park is evidence of Government’s commitment to ensures that the most vulnerable in our community receive the help they need and to plan a future that gives Fiji’s senior citizens the services that matter most,” Dr Luveni said.

“The park will provide an ideal place for the senior citizens to make interactions, socialise and enjoy the recreational activities which will be organised for them.

The park, she said would not have been possible without the kind assistance forwarded by the Suva Rotary Club and Mr Ajay Amrit along with the Suva City Council.

“No money, no gain, as the saying goes. We had no money, Ajay Amrit looked for it and found the money through the usual ready support of the Rotary Club of Suva and Suva City Council willingly approved this site that is actually second to none in terms of environment and connecting to the everyday lives of the children, the sports people.”

Dr Luveni reiterated that the Government would continue to strengthen partnership to make a difference in the lives of the senior citizens in the country.

Mr Hemant Kumar the architect assigned for the design of the park has agreed to take on the task free of charge. The construction of the park would take a maximum of three months.

“Come Christmas time this year we expect the park will be ready for opening. The project is really a historic one,” Kumar said.