Daku settlement lights up
For the past 18 years, Kamal Pratap Singh, 48, and his children used hurricane lamps and candles each night as a source of light in their house at the Daku Settlement in Savusavu.
Last night was a different story because they received electricity in their household. This was after Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama commissioned the Daku/Naverea grid extension project.
Mr Singh is one of 150 people who will benefit from this. And now his children, like others in the area, will be able to study at night under electric lights.
“I am very happy that my children will be able to study using electricity. Despite using candles, two of my children excelled and are now working,” said the father of four. “When Tropical Cyclone Winston hit Fiji, my house was destroyed. I started to work hard to rebuild my house again. My children are my top priority and I want to give my them the best of everything. “I thank the Government for thinking of us.”
Prime Minister Bainimarama said Government had allocated $42.6 million for the initiative that would improve the lives of 6000 households. “With power comes responsibility and I would encourage the village to develop a proper maintenance programme so that the investment in the grid extension system is sustainable and lasting,” he said. Mr Bainimarama also advised parents to be more attentive and vigilant with their children because of social evils that are available online.
Currently about 90 per cent of the population of Savusavu have access to electricity.