Access road to Ease Wailailai Struggles
Mr Tubuna said the construction of a new concrete access road would alleviate the difficulties faced by the residents of Wailalai, which have persisted for the past four decades.
Thursday 07 November 2024 | 10:25
Assistant Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Sakiusa Tubuna (wearing garland), with residents of Wailailai in Ovalau on November 1, 2024. Photo: DEPTFO News
Residents of the Wailailai Melanesia community on Ovalau gathered last Friday to celebrate the official opening of a new access road, marking a significant improvement in transportation to the area.
For more than four decades, community members faced the challenge of unloading luggage and shopping at a distant point, as vehicles couldn’t reach their homes due to the absence of a proper road.
The new access road is set to end this longstanding inconvenience, making travel easier and more efficient.
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Wailailai, with its high elevation and commanding view of the Ovalau waters, is home to descendants of Melanesians of Solomon descent.
Last Friday, Assistant Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Sakiusa Tubuna commissioned the investment of $22,000 by the Office of the Prime Minister.
Mr Tubuna said the construction of a new concrete access road would alleviate the difficulties faced by the residents of Wailalai, which have persisted for the past four decades.
The access road is now a symbol of hope for the Wailailai Melanesia community, showcasing their resilience and perseverance, Mr Tubuna said.
He also praised the community and congratulated the Wailailai people.
Assistant Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Sakiusa Tubuna (wearing garland) cuts the ribbon alongside a church minister to officially commission a new access road in Wailailai, Ovalau, on November 1, 2024. Photo: DEPTFO News
“Your oneness as a community on completing this project is a model that our villages and communities must endeavour to replicate,” said Mr Tubuna.
“The condition of your access road has prevented public service providers from reaching the roundabout for several years.
“As a result, you’ve had to carry your groceries and other cargo uphill, which has been the situation for many years,” he said.
“You have been crying for far too long, enduring suffering in silence, but today, it will be a thing of the past.
“This is your Government and it will exhaust all its efforts to assist all Fijians regardless of gender, race, or creed,” Mr Tubuna said.
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