A beautiful sight welcomed the Prime Minister on his visit to Tavea Island to see cyclone relief work.

The village was cleaned up.

Village headman, Josevata Veibete, said the strong winds destroyed seven houses and partially damaged 10 out of the 47 houses on the island.

Mr Veibete said they wanted to show the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama that they were resilient and had already cleaned up the village.

“We had repaired the pipes and now we have continuous water supply to the village,” Mr Veibete said.

“The newly built kindergarten was destroyed by the cyclone,” he said.

Assistant Minister for Rural Maritime and Development, Jale Sigarara told the villagers that they had received many requests for evacuation centres.

He encouraged the villagers of Tavea to build their houses back stronger.

Meanwhile, 34 students from the island were boarding students at Lekutu District School.

They were informed that tents had been supplied to the school to accommodate them.

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