State makes good on road promise

AFTER a wait of 51 years, the people of Namata Village, Tailevu have been provided with roads which give them access to school, work and medical services.

This, according to former civil servant Peni Sokia.

He made the comment after Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama opened the $3 million Namata access road on Wednesday.

Mr Sokia said their forefathers had been forced to build temporary wooden bridges year after year to allow villagers to travel safely.

He said in 1966, the Bau Tikina Rd was constructed and they planted coconut trees to mark the sides of the road.

Mr Sokia said when they planted the trees, the then Fiji Roads Association constructed a road up to Tabutabu which allowed them the closest access to Namata.

However, he said they had to walk through mangroves to get to the village, a treacherous affair during heavy rainfall.

“We waited for 51 years, from 1966 right up to 2017, and then this Government finally constructed our road,” he said.

“I want to thank Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and his Government for fulfilling their promise today.”

Namata Village headman Jolame

Vakalolovou said 61 households and 381 villagers would benefit from the road project.

However, he said, a bigger issue for them was saltwater inundation.

He said during high tide, most of the houses would be flooded and they would use small boats to go from one home to another.

Mr Vakalolovou asked if Government could fortify the seashore by building a sea wall to solve the issue.