Trekking for about 250 metres with their heavy luggage will be a thing of the past for villagers of Naitauvoli in Naitasiri.

This is after the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development, Inia Seruiratu, commissioned their new access road which was worth about $25,000.

Naitauvoli Village women’s group leader, Anareta Lewasau, said the road was an answer to their long-time cries for a better road.

“Sometimes when there is an emergency, we have to carry sick people by foot to the mainroad. We have had cases where some of them died along the way.

“We are so thankful to the Government for this initiative.”

Meanwhile, Minister Seruiratu said they were looking at the second phase of the project where bigger vehicles could also access the road without any hindrance.

“Accessibility in rural communities is important for us,” said Mr Seruiratu.

The road was funded by the ministry’s Community Access Roads, Footpaths and Footbridges (CARFF) programme.

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