Keep our roads safe
Bainimarama’s plea to motorists:
PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama opened his new year’s message with an urgent plea for motorists to be responsible behind the wheel.
He said if there was one commitment he would like every Fijian to make, it was “to stay safe behind the wheel and to urge others to do the same”.
“This holiday season has already seen far too many accidents and deaths on our roads,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“We simply cannot stand the heartbreak of losing more family members to reckless driving.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re going – it is not worth anyone’s life to get there.
“Please, respect the speed limit, buckle up, and keep our roads safe to drive.”
Mr Bainimarama also paid tribute to development partners, the United Nations and all the frontline healthcare and security force workers engaged in the fight against COVID-19 and in the rebuilding in the aftermath of super storm Yasa.
“Before we make way for 2021, I want to thank all those who have made it safe to celebrate this new year – our healthcare heroes, airport frontline workers, disaster officials, and members of our disciplined forces.
“Most, every day this year, weekend after weekend, cyclone after cyclone, through the campaign to contain the virus, into Christmas, and into the new year, they have kept us safe.
“We’ve seen the images; police officers standing through rainy nights to keep watch of our streets.
“Doctors working two-week straight shifts in isolation wards tending to ill patients.
“Disaster officials springing into action to warn us of storms and reach Fijians in need.
“Because of them, there are Fijians alive today to share in the hope of what the new year will bring.”
Mr Bainimarama said as of midnight December 31, Fiji had gone 257 days with its last local case of COVID-19, testament of the effectiveness of the measures undertaken to contain the virus.
He also said the “build back better” measures undertaken by Government in the wake of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston had proven to be effective.
“Well, we have done the assessments. Not one government-funded school, building, or critical piece of infrastructure that we rebuilt from Winston was destroyed by Yasa – a storm of near-rival strength.”
The PM said work would continue this year to strengthen vulnerable communities and also on the national front to reduce emissions.
“We have fortified seven more low-lying communities with sea walls in 2020 with another 13 in the pipeline. And we have raised the ambition of our Paris Agreement commitment to build a climate-resilient Fiji, create a sustainable blue economy, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.”