Authority to hold off work until exams ends

Traffic jams which has resulted in the lateness of students sitting external exams has prompted the Fiji Roads Authority ( FRA) to change their work schedule until the end of the exams on November 14.

“We don’t want the kids to be affected so we will change the working patterns at least to the period of the November 14 to make sure there is no disruption going forward from here,” said FRA chief executive Jonathan Moore yesterday in a press conference. Permanent Secretary for Education Iowane Tiko, who joined Mr Moore at the conference, said at least 30 students from various schools in Suva were late for exams as a result of traffic jams.

“From our point of view, originally, we instructed contractors not to work during peak hours and unfortunately that meant some of the vehicles were left on the road-side and that added to the congestion issues this (yesterday) morning,” Mr Moore said. “So, following the meeting this (yesterday) morning at the Prime Minister’s Office, we had instructed the contractors to pull every piece of equipment and every member of their workforce off the road between 6 to 9:30am and also between 4 to 6pm.”

Mr Tiko said students who arrived late because of the traffic jams should be considered.

“We have factored in an internal message around all our school heads to ensure that candidates who arrive late are entertained and given access to the exam hall,” Mr Tiko said. Mr Moore said plans for dedicated bus and cycle lanes were currently being considered by the authority.