Two Gau women get chance to tell their story to PM
From a front porch, two women from Gau could only watch as the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama commissioned the $1.5m Tokou Village seawall and road.
Both have been unwell over the past week.
As Mr Bainimarama returned to the Tokou Village Hall for the usual talanoa session with villagers, he took the time to speak with the two women.
Teresia Radinimaleka Tawakica, 68, of Malawai Village, Gau, lost her husband, Suluo Tawakica 17 years ago.
She remained in Tokou Village and singlehandedly raised her five children.
Her friend, Sisilia Varomusu, 70, of Navukailagi Village, Gau, married Kelemeti Varomusu of Tokou and had 12 children.
Only one resides in the village. Ms Tawakica said the Prime Minister inquired about the ailments they had.
“I told him I had a bad knee and he said that he suffered the same,” she said.
Ms Varomusu said she suffered from heart problems.
The short conversation with the Prime Minister had the two women on the road to inspect the new bus shelter.
Later, in a packed Tokou Village Hall, Mr Bainimarama said Government’s priority remained – to upgrade the transportation infrastructure throughout the country. “We have a special challenge in Fiji, to link a permanent and efficient way people living in isolated areas with other people on their island, and to link all the Fijian people living on all our islands together.”
He said this meant repairing and improving the roads, bridges and jetties. “We have to make them stronger, more modern and more able to withstand the ravages of storms and the threat of erosion brought on by climate change,” he said.
“This is particularly important for our rural populations, who for too many years were neglected and left to live with a backward road system. But I will never accept the idea that we can leave even one family—or one person— behind in the modern economy. Everyone needs an opportunity to contribute, to grow and to prosper. That is why we have emphasised improving schools and improving access to electrical power and water.”