2 Settlements In Bua Get Access Roads

Two settlements in Bua are now benefitting from the opening of their community access roads.

This was after the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu commissioned at Luvuluvu Settlement and Natewa Settlement on March earlier this month.

Both projects were funded under the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management’s Community Access Road, Footpaths and Footbridges (CARFF) programme at a cost close to $90,000.

District Advisory Councillor for the Luvuluvu community, Sashi Kiran said the community used to be exposed to a lot of challenges as a result of poor road conditions in the past.

“Our students used to find a lot of difficulties in going to school during the rainy weather,” she said.

“Their uniforms would get muddy on the way.”

Moreover, she said before they used to use the ‘qasita’ (bullock carts) to take sick elderly members to the main road to get a vehicle to transport them to the hospital.

“Today we are so happy that we have an improved road,” she said.

“We thank the Government a lot for helping us.”

Meanwhile, Natewa Settlement Women’s Group leader Mere Sagale said the provision of the new road made accessibility to school easier for their children.

“The track used before was really muddy, but now we can see the excitement on the faces of our children,” Ms Sagale said. “They are happy and looking forward to a new school year on April 11, because they know the condition of the road is much better now.”

The Natewa community access road links three communities.

Mr Seruiratu said the project was intended to provide easy access to and from the community.

“The improvement to the Luvuluvu community access road would boost rice production for rice farmers who reside in the Luvuluvu area,” Mr Seruiratu said.

“Accessibility is critical for every Fijian.”

He said these projects were important for access to markets, to Government services, and to enable Government ministries to reach out to the communities as well.

“Not only that, but the economic empowerment and the livelihoods; these are everything that contribute towards the progress and development of the community when we have good access,” he said.

“Government is again committed to ensuring that no rural Fijian is left behind and we are continuing with this work in the hope that rural Fijians in Bua will contribute more again towards development.”

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