New Foot-Crossing Bridge Benefits Villagers, Especially School Students
More than 60 households, 300 villagers, and more than 200 students of three schools in Nadi will no longer swim or wade through the flowing river to get to and from the schools and villages.
This was after a newly constructed 15-metre foot-crossing bridge, which is the 14th Hop-Skip and Jump project to be completed was commissioned in Buruwa Primary School in Nawaicoba, Nadi, yesterday.
Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment Mahendra Reddy while commissioning the foot-crossing reiterated Government’s commitment towards providing a better and quality education for all Fijians.
Mr Reddy said the crossing was significant as it linked the communities and the school, providing improved accessibility for better education and safeguarding the wellbeing of students, as well as for the neighbouring villages.
“The underlying objective is to provide equal opportunities to all Fijians to ensure rural and maritime communities are part of the growth and development process,” Mr Reddy said.
“This foot-crossing bridge will not only provide easy access for the villagers to cross the creek but will also allow safer crossings for school children, women and elders of the village during the day and night with the installation of solar lights,” he said.
Mr Reddy also called on villagers to safeguard their environment and not to dispose rubbish in the waterways and mangroves. Nasesevia Secondary School acting principal Mesulame Uluimoala acknowledged the Government’s commitment towards the development of rural communities and providing quality education for the students.
Mr Ulimoala said the infrastructural development for the Buruwa school would not only provide a safer crossing for the villagers, but greatly benefit students as they traveled daily to school.
“Prior to this, there were no proper crossings and the school children used to cross the flooded river every day to get to the school and to the villages,” he said.
“During rainy weather, the rivers get flooded and aren’t safe to cross, especially for the school children and for villagers as well, then they follow the government road which takes about one hour to get to the school.”
The foot crossing bridge also has solar lights for the safer crossing during the night.
Source: Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment