A family of four were happy to be travelling back home after being stranded in Vanua Levu for almost a week because there was no shipping services due to adverse weather conditions created by Tropical Cyclone Mona.

Mohina Ali, 32, brought her three kids to visit her parents at their residence in Labasa to spend the Christmas holidays.

“Everything was going well, but due to the weather we were unable to travel back home to Viti Levu as planned,” she said.

“Our initial plan included travelling back to Ba last week. I was really worried because we had to prepare our children for school.”

She had to keep inquiring with officials of the shipping companies; however all travel had been postponed untill further notice.

What started as a nice holiday for the family turned into a panic as the weather worsened.

Her mother, Maimuna Nisha, 62, was quietly confident that the weather would improve.

“I was also worried about them because the grandchildren had to get ready for school,” Ms Nisha said.

On Monday, the family was informed that Patterson Brothers Shipping Services would resume  its operations from Tuesday.

“I rushed to town in the early hours of Monday to get my bookings rescheduled,” Ms Ali said.

Her children, Abdul Sameer Haq, 11 and Hamid Abdul Masawi, 12 will be going to Ba Muslim Primary School while youngest child Zunaira Ali is four years old.

Hamid said he was happy and eagerly awaiting for the start of the 2019 school year.

Edited by Percy Kean

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