The massive clean-up at Queen Victoria School (QVS)  and Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) in Tailevu is underway.

Yesterday parents and old scholars joined Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Fiji Corrections Service officers, inmates and Government officers in trying to restore the schools.

In QVS, more than 100 RFMF personnel and inmates were deployed clear damage left behind by Tropical Cyclone Winston.

The monster storm forced the school to close down after ripping open school buildings, teachers’ quarters and also damaged crops.

Students were sent home last week. It is understood the priority is to get the school able to quickly take senior boys back as this is an important exam year for them.

Corporal Mosese Latu said more than 60 military recruits from the Forces Training Group and more than 30 soldiers from the Engineers Corp were at the school.

“The damage on the school is massive compared to other schools in other parts of the country.

“Our engineers and recruits are working and it will take a few days to clear the debris,” he said.

QVSOB president Anasa Vocea said: “Four buses brought the OBs and PTA members and the response has been tremendous.

“We thank Government arms who are assisting with the cleaning, the RFMF and the Ministry of Forestry for helping us remove fallen trees and branches and the inmates their help,” he said.

Determination and perseverance stood out yesterday at RKS when some parents helped clean their children’s dormitory.

RKS Parents and Teachers Association vice-president, Albert Kamikamica said they were parents of students of Cakau House.

“There are 205 students accommodated at Cakau House. The overall number of students in the school is more than 1000,” Mr Kamikamica said.

Mr Kamikamica said parents had vowed to work together in trying to rebuild the school.

“We will not use the cyclone as an excuse to stop our children from going to school. Exams are just around the corner and we need to get them back to school as soon as possible.”

Among parents was Luse Cama from Lami. She said her son’s education had always been her priority.

Food rations for Qoma,

Lawaki, Qelekuro

Food rations were delivered by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to Qoma Island in Tailevu yesterday.

It is an island village. Its elder Kaminieli Koliniwasawasa said: “Food ration supply came at the right time because Tropical Cyclone Winston destroyed our village and our crops.

“We thank Government. This will help more than 200 villagers because cassava and breadfruits are getting bad,” he said.

Mr Koliniwasawasa said they would start farming kumala (sweet potato) soon.

He said tidal waves swept through their island village during the cyclone.

Meanwhile, neighbouring villages

Lawaki and Qelekuro in Dawasamu also received food rations.

Edited by Maikeli Seru

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