Students and residents of Soweri Settlement in Ba will no longer have to walk long distances to board the bus to go to school or town.

Since last month, the Empire Bus Service has provided service to the settlement.

Taniela Malocebe, 61, a retired FSC mill worker said: “I have been living here for about 35 years. People walk far to catch the bus, especially during wet weather,” he said.

Mr Malocebe is originally from Namaqumaqua in Serua and worked at the Rarawai Mill for more than 39 years.

He said the settlement was established in 1931.

“We thank Fiji Roads Authority contractor Higgins Limited for upgrading the road and the drainage,” Mr Malocebe said.

“More than 100 inhabitants live in Soweri Settlement which was established during the Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) time before the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) came into place.”

He said two third of people living in the settlement were iTaukei and other ethnicities made the other numbers.

“We are grateful and excited and we thank the Government for listening to our call.”

Assistant district officer Ba Alivereti Abenisiga said the service would greatly help students of the settlement.

The bus makes three trips daily to the settlement; 7am, 1.30pm and 5.30pm except on Sunday.