The Government has already spent one point five million dollars making initial payments to commence the cable connection project to Vanua Levu.

There are two allocation of funds set aside for this project.

Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum says this includes the finalization of loan agreement from the World Bank and execution of project contract with the Alcatel Submarine network – undersea fiber optic cables to supply the spur.

“As you know that I mention earlier on this cable is coming from Samoa to Vatuwaqa and passes between TAVEUNI and Savusavu in Vanua Levu so we building a spur out of that to connect it and make it land on vanua Levu .The project will be completed in March 2018 there are two budgetary allocations first for the loan component involve a direct payment of 12.53 million dollars by the World Bank for the supply of spur ,project management fees and second another 5 million dollars for the locally funded component of vat and other project fees.”

Sayed-Khaiyum was responding to Opposition Member Mosese Bulitavu seeking clarifications between the two allocations under the program.

Sayed-Khaiyum says Environmental Impact Assessments should also be conducted because the cable will land near Savusavu.