Labasa
Encyclopedia
Labasa is a town in Fiji
with a population of 27,949 at the most recent census
held in 2007.
Labasa is located in Macuata Province, in the north-eastern part of the island of Vanua Levu
, and is the largest town on the island. The town itself is located on a delta formed by three river
s - the Wailevu, the Labasa
(after which the town is named), and the Qawa
. The latter two are connected by an 8-kilometer canal
. The main street of Labasa prides itself for having the first set of traffic lights in the entire island.
sugar mill in Labasa town is the only such mill on the island.
Recently, due to political changes and loss of overseas markets, sugar cane farming and production has been steadily decreasing. This has been reflected in the increasing migration of people to the main island of Viti Levu
, in search of employment opportunities.
Labasa Hospital is the referral center for all health centers and hospital on the island of Vanua Levu, and has recently been expanded. It is plagued, however, by a lack of professional staff and equipment.
Labasa is generally an agricultural town, off the tourist track. Labasa now has a couple of good hotels to stay in (Takia/Travel Lodge and Grand Eastern Hotel). There is at least one good movie theatre and several good restaurants in the main street providing a range of local and Chinese flavours.
There is a fairly large market towards the end of the town where one can buy and sample a range of foods, spices, fish, poultry, goats and other local products. A large taxi stand and a bus stop is also by the market.
It also has some popular tourist spots while the people of Labasa are quite well known for their hospitality.
from among themselves. Councillors serve three-year terms; the Mayor's term is for one year, but may be extended any number of times. Labasa's current Mayor, elected on 28 October 2005 following the municipal election
to the Town Council one week earlier, is Dr Pradeep Singh
of the Fiji Labour Party
(FLP). Leslie Williams
was chosen as his deputy, but was replaced by Shivlal Nagindas
on 30 October 2006.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
with a population of 27,949 at the most recent census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
held in 2007.
Labasa is located in Macuata Province, in the north-eastern part of the island of Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu , formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 km² and a population of some 130,000.- Geography :...
, and is the largest town on the island. The town itself is located on a delta formed by three river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
s - the Wailevu, the Labasa
Labasa River
-References:*...
(after which the town is named), and the Qawa
Qawa River
-References:*...
. The latter two are connected by an 8-kilometer canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
. The main street of Labasa prides itself for having the first set of traffic lights in the entire island.
Economic activities
The surrounding areas of Labasa are mostly farming areas, which contribute to much of the industry in the town. The largest crop grown is sugar cane. The large Fiji Sugar CorporationFiji Sugar Corporation
Fiji Sugar Corporation is the Government-owned sugar milling company in Fiji having the monopoly on production of all raw sugar in Fiji. It is also the largest public enterprise in Fiji directly employing nearly 3000 people while another 200,000 or more depend on it for their livelihood in rural...
sugar mill in Labasa town is the only such mill on the island.
Recently, due to political changes and loss of overseas markets, sugar cane farming and production has been steadily decreasing. This has been reflected in the increasing migration of people to the main island of Viti Levu
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
, in search of employment opportunities.
Labasa Hospital is the referral center for all health centers and hospital on the island of Vanua Levu, and has recently been expanded. It is plagued, however, by a lack of professional staff and equipment.
Labasa is generally an agricultural town, off the tourist track. Labasa now has a couple of good hotels to stay in (Takia/Travel Lodge and Grand Eastern Hotel). There is at least one good movie theatre and several good restaurants in the main street providing a range of local and Chinese flavours.
There is a fairly large market towards the end of the town where one can buy and sample a range of foods, spices, fish, poultry, goats and other local products. A large taxi stand and a bus stop is also by the market.
It also has some popular tourist spots while the people of Labasa are quite well known for their hospitality.
Government
Incorporated as a Town in 1939, Labasa is governed by a 12-member Town Council, whose members elect a MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
from among themselves. Councillors serve three-year terms; the Mayor's term is for one year, but may be extended any number of times. Labasa's current Mayor, elected on 28 October 2005 following the municipal election
Fiji municipal election, 2005
Municipal elections were held for 11 of Fiji's twelve city and town councils on 22 October 2005. In the capital city, however, elections for the Suva City Council were postponed till 12 November, owing to the death of two candidates; the death of a candidate in Lautoka also resulted in the...
to the Town Council one week earlier, is Dr Pradeep Singh
Pradeep Singh
Pradeep Singh is the founder and CEO of Aditi Technologies.Pradeep Singh founded Aditi Technologies in 1994 after nine years in management positions at Microsoft, including General Manager of the Windows 95 mobile services group. He is also the founder of Talisma, a CRM software product company...
of the Fiji Labour Party
Fiji Labour Party
The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji, which holds observer status with the Socialist International. Most of its support at present comes from the Indo-Fijian community, although it is officially multiracial and its first leader was an indigenous Fijian, Dr. Timoci Bavadra. It is...
(FLP). Leslie Williams
Leslie Williams
William Leslie "Les" Thomas Williams was a Welsh dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level played rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Llanelli RFC, and Cardiff RFC, playing at Wing, or Centre, i.e...
was chosen as his deputy, but was replaced by Shivlal Nagindas
Shivlal Nagindas
Shivlal Nagindas is a Fijian businessman of Indian descent, who currently serves as President of the Labasa Chamber of Commerce. He has also held political office as a Senator, as a Labasa Town Councillor...
on 30 October 2006.