PM praises Nasolo villagers who built their own bridge
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday praised the villagers of Nasolo, in the province of Bua in the North, for taking the initiative by building their own bridge and not relying on Government assistance to do so.
Mr Bainimarama said: “I must congratulate the young people of this village who started this project…the country is really built through the efforts of scores of communities like Nasolo scores of villages, scores of committees, scores of volunteer organsations, scores of schools and all working to create a better life for themselves and their neighbours.”
He is pictured here with villagers and stakeholders at the commissioning on September 29, 2020.
Nasolo Village is the first village in Bua province to build a bridge without depending on Government’s help. Yesterday, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama commissioned the bridge project, named the Faith Blessed Harvest Bridge.
According to Nasolo village headman, Jone Bureta, it took the villagers only three weeks building the 22 metre long bridge. It is 4m wide and 6m above ground level. Mr Bureta said the male youth group raised $5000 for the project, and the Nasolo Development Trust contributed $13,000.
The rest of the funds were provided by the people of Nasolo who live in other parts of the country and good Samaritans who contributed in cash and kind. The total cost for the construction of the bridge was more than $40,00. It will benefit around 500 villagers.
Turaga ni Yavusa Aisake Sovakiwai was a proud and happy man after witnessing the official opening of the bridge by Mr Bainimarama. Mr Sovakiwai said gone were the days when school children would have to cross the flooded river to get to school or home when it rained.
“Now our children don’t have to fear about crossing the river to go to school or miss school due to bad weather,” Mr Sovakiwai said.
“Also our elderlies and disabled members won’t have to suffer in bed waiting for a good transport to take them across the river in order to get to the nearest health centre or hospital,” he said.
He added it wasn’t easy for his people to raise funds, but he was proud of their hard work and dedication.
PM’s statement
Mr Bainimarama said development in Fiji was not the job of the Government alone.
“I must congratulate the young people of this village who started this project. A bridge is not just a structure; it represents opportunity by making transportation of goods and people easier.”
He said the people chose their Government to do what only the Government with the resources at its disposal could do.
“But the country is really built through the efforts of scores of communities like Nasolo scores of villages, scores of committees, scores of volunteer organisations, scores of schools and all working to create a better life for themselves and their neighbours,” he said.
The PM said this was the Fijian spirit, a spirit of generosity, cooperation and good will.
He added this was one the things that made the country great.
“I expect this bridge to last many years and to serve the people in this area well into the future.
“Faith bridge is an appropriate name for this crossing. You build it through your faith in God and your faith in each other.” Edited by Caroline Ratucadra